Multiple sclerosis warrior needs a power wheelchair to keep her life moving forward

Alyssa Johnson
·6 min read

Growing up, Katrina Faust witnessed her father fight multiple sclerosis as he gradually went from being able to use the stairs to losing his ability to walk. She never imagined that she would end up going through that same battle herself.

But in 2013, Faust — a bike-riding, boxing, beach-going physical therapist assistant — was diagnosed with MS .

MS is a chronic, neurological illness that affects the body’s central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. It’s caused by the immune system attacking the nerves in the body, which can lead to symptoms that affect vision, mobility, cognitive function, emotions and more. At present, there is no cure for multiple sclerosis.

After the MS diagnosis, Faust prayed that she would be able to continue to work to sustain herself at least until 50. She says she’s been a physical therapist assistant for the past 23 years, working with patients who deal with a range of conditions, from stroke to MS. Now at 53, she’s still pushing herself to show up at work every day to continue improving the lives of others, all the while never disclosing or showing her disability to her patients at work.

Katrina Faust, who has multiple sclerosis, sits on the porch outside her home in North Miami.
Katrina Faust, who has multiple sclerosis, sits on the porch outside her home in North Miami.

“I love what I do, I love working with patients. I think [MS] has given me a different perspective because I’m kind of a patient myself,” said Faust. “I liked working with neurological patients before this even happened to me — I just didn’t expect to become one.”

Since she learned she had MS, she’s had to cut back her hours, but she says that being able to help make a difference in the lives of her patients gives her motivation to keep fighting.

“It’s amazing that somebody with her diagnosis can do this day in and day out and provide an amazing, excellent level of care for all of her patients. She is definitely my hero,” said Adam Lieberman, a coworker of Katrina’s for the past 18 years.

This holiday season she wants to regain some of the independence that MS stole from her. That independence comes in the form of a portable, electric wheelchair. She says the chair she’s asking for, the Carbon F1 by Forcemech, would let her live a life beyond her job at the hospital and home. It’s unlikely she’ll ever box again, but she wants to have enough energy to do more than help others at work and then go directly home.

While she still has the ability to walk short distances, Faust cannot go many places safely by herself, such as the mall or the park. The majority of the time she needs someone to assist her on outings or push her in a wheelchair due to stiff muscles that debilitate her mobility, extreme fatigue and the heat that exacerbates her condition.

“I have to not just plan for myself, I have to plan for someone else who’s willing and able to assist because sometimes people have their own health issues and they can’t push me around,” said Faust.

She’s asking for this chair in particular because she says it’s light enough for her to transport on her own and it gives her the flexibility to walk short distances if she needs to while still keeping the chair by her side.

She says that her insurance company won’t pay for a tool like this unless she’s lost the ability to walk altogether, even though she said her neurologist has written a prescription for a power chair. Not giving up, Faust reached out to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, an organization that aims to help MS patients with services and grants.

After reading Faust’s application and speaking to her, Marcia Harris, support groups program coordinator at the foundation, was inspired by Faust’s story but said the organization doesn’t have a grant large enough to get Faust her chair. Harris then nominated Faust for the Miami Herald’s Wish Book series.

“She’s very grateful that she’s able to work but she’s very tired at the end of the day and she can barely make it at night. You know, sometimes she’s just exhausted. So I think she’s very deserving of this,” said Harris.

Katrina Faust, who has multiple sclerosis, is worn out at the end of her work day. A power wheelchair would conserve some of her energy and restore some of her independence.
Katrina Faust, who has multiple sclerosis, is worn out at the end of her work day. A power wheelchair would conserve some of her energy and restore some of her independence.

Dennis Nieves, Faust’s boyfriend, started dating Faust a few years before her diagnosis. He helps out where he can when Faust needs it and will push her in her wheelchair when they go on outings. He says the journey has been far from easy for the woman that he loves.

“In the beginning it was very hard because she was a very active person. When you start going through the changes, things that used to be pretty easy become increasingly difficult as the years go by. Sometimes just getting up in the morning and walking into the kitchen to get your coffee is a challenge,” said Nieves.

While he’s with her on both her good and bad days, Nieves, 53, said that Faust’s selfless nature and care for others are one of the reasons he fell in love with her.

“Like everybody else there’s days that they’re feeling worse or that you feel like you don’t want to be doing this anymore, but then every week she’s going to work and she loves her job. She loves being one of the assistants, she loves helping people get better,” said Nieves.

At Nieves and Faust’s home in North Miami, Faust continues to care for others — she has taken in and rescued multiple stray cats in the neighborhood.

Now ten years after the MS diagnosis, Faust says she’s trying to stay in a more positive head space compared to where she was then, in part because of the support and love from her friends and family. One person who has been a point of inspiration has been her father, now 85

“I’ve seen my dad over the years just keep pushing through. No matter what he keeps moving forward and I think that’s helped me keep going,” said Faust.

How to help

To help this Wish Book nominee and the more than 100 other nominees who are in need this year:

▪ To donate, use the coupon found in the newspaper or pay securely online through www.MiamiHerald.com/wishbook

▪ For more information, call 305-376-2906 or email Wishbook@MiamiHerald.com

▪ The most requested items are often laptops and tablets for school, furniture, and accessible vans

▪ Read all Wish Book stories on www.MiamiHerald.com/wishbook

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