In our premiere episode, “Newly Diagnosed”, we talk with Sumaira Ahmed, patient advocate and founder of The Sumaira Foundation who is living with Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO). Sumaira shares what it was like to be newly diagnosed, the ways in which her life changed, and how that inspired her to create a foundation to help others facing this life altering disease. Our Host: Lelainia Lloyd has been living with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) since she was 12 years old. She has experienced an epic 30-year journey living with NMOSD, from misdiagnosis to diagnosis and continues to navigate the obstacles of ignorance, ableism, and a medical culture that sometimes misses the mark for patient-centred care. The purpose of this podcast is to make information accessible to NMOSD patients and the community. Each episode has been inspired by questions from fellow patients and will include: signs, attacks, symptoms, self-care, relapses, managing mental health and pain to name a few. Our Guest: Prior to working in healthcare marketing and business development, Sumaira was an actress/model in Bangladesh and India and has starred in music videos and a health-related documentary. She is also a classically-trained Kathak dancer and has performed in notable venues. In the summer of 2014, Sumaira was diagnosed with sero-negative Neuromyelitis Optica. Within two months of her diagnosis, she founded The Sumaira Foundation dedicated to generating global awareness, finding a cure, patient advocacy, and creating communities of support for NMOSD and MOG-AD. In September 2021, Sumaira was honored with WEGO Health's "Best Kept Secret" Award recognizing her advocacy work in rare disease. www.sumairafoundation.org www.mssociety.ca Please visit www.NMOSD.ca for more information on what NMOSD is, how it affects the body, tips for daily life and how to discuss it with your doctor. The podcast is intended exclusively for the residents of Canada and is subject to all applicable laws and regulations therein. The podcast is intended for informational, personal and non-commercial purposes only. Persons having any specific questions, regarding diagnosis or treatment, are advised to contact their healthcare provider. This podcast was made possible with support from Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease. For further information about your medical condition, please talk to your healthcare professional. All rights reserved. Alexion Pharma Canada Corp. For more NMOSD information and resources, please visit https://nmosd.ca/