Claudia Longo is brains, beauty, and brawn. She’s a University of Washington sophomore midfielder, made PAC-12 Academic Honor Roll, and all-around sweetheart. Her secret? Starting her day with a cocktail of fish oil, vitamin B, and Gilenya. While it sounds like a luxe Goop product, it is actually just one part of her regimen to manage her multiple sclerosis (MS). This, along with an anti-inflammatory diet and monitored training, keep her on her A-game.
MS is a disease that destroys fatty nerve cell barriers in the spine and brain, causing them to “short circuit” and misfire signals. Claudia, with early stage MS, plays through migraines, chronic fatigue, and numbness in her limbs, sometimes even ending games with vomiting.
Having a strong support system helps Claudia stay present. “This disease is pretty unpredictable, so I try not to think about the future and the “what if’s”. What I know now is that I can still live a healthy and happy life with this disease, and I will do what it...