National MS Society opens regional office in Cape

People with multiple sclerosis now have a resource closer to home since a regional office for the National MS Society has opened in Cape Girardeau.

The office opened in June and offers medical resources and information, patient education services and a lending library. It serves 10 counties in Missouri and 11 in Southern Illinois.

Until now, anyone who needed to contact the National MS Society had to reach someone in a St. Louis chapter office. The Cape Girardeau office is a regional center under the umbrella of that chapter.

Teresa Birk serves as regional programs manager for the local office. She is a lifelong resident of Jackson and formerly worked for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

In her role now, Birk regularly meets with self-help groups, health-care providers and people interested in learning about the MS Society. "It's just outreach and awareness," she said.

Making connections in the communities of Southeast Missouri has already proven to be a success for the office, Birk said. Often just a few days after making a community visit, she will receive a call asking for referrals or information for a patient.

The regional office offers wellness seminars, self-help groups and seminars for people who are newly diagnosed with the disease. Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system whose symptoms range from vision problems to weakness, fatigue and even paralysis.