My name is Nicole Lemelle. I am a writer, an activist, and a person living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I created My New Normals to educate those who do not understand MS, reassure people with similar plights and inspire everyone to seize command of their lives.

I have earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Louisiana State University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, and a Cardiac Device Technology Certificate from the Arrhythmia Technologies Institute.

My education has allowed me to work as a chemist in Baton Rouge, LA, an ICU staff nurse in Las Vegas, NV, a cardiology charge nurse in New Orleans, LA, and a cardiac device specialist in Washington, DC.

As an MS advocate, I donate my time and support to the National MS Society. I am also a member of the Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA) and a Louisiana MS Society Government Relations Committee (GRC) Member.

My Story

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Latest Blog Post

Diagnosis (Part 1)

Hazy View (Part 2)

Pitch-Dark (Part 3)

A Life Changing Meal (Part 4)

A New Beginning (Part 5)

Remember Me? It’s MS (Part 6)

Good Morning Sunshine (Part 7)

Rehab (Part 8)

Going Home (Part 9)

Constant Search (Part 10)

I’m Ready (Part 11)

Coping (Part 12)

French Quarter

I have appeared in various outlets including:

Web

-MotherToBaby (website)
-MSN.com (website)
-Verywell Health (website)
-Yahoo.com (website)
-Fortune.com (website)
-HealthCentral.com (website)
-Future of Personal Health (website)
-Celgene.com (website)
-Comedy Hype (website)
-Everyday Health (website)
-#50MillionFaces Campaign
-Black Health Matters (website)
-The Mighty (website)
-Yahoo Finance (website)
-The National MS Society Blog (website)
-MultipleSclerosis.net (website)
-Real Health (website)
-Healthline (website)
-Shift MS (website)
-The St. Louis American Newspaper (website)
-Multiple Sclerosis-Relief (website)
-Movement for Hope (website)
-The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (website)
-Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre (website)
-msstation (website)
-Southcook MS Support Group (website)
-MS-UK (website)
-A World Free Of MS (website)
-(Local 10) WPLG News – Miami, FL (website)
-MyMSTeam (website)

Print
-Fortune Magazine
-US Pain – INvisible Project
-MS Focus Magazine
-Neurology Now Magazine
-The New Orleans Advocate Newspaper
-National Institutes of Health-MedlinePlus Magazine
-St. Charles Avenue Magazine
-Real Health Magazine
-United Spinal Association-Life In Action Magazine
-National MS Society-Momentum Magazine
-MS Connection Newsletters
-New Orleans Times Picayune Newspaper
-Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Project (MSQLP) Newsletter

Profiles and Features

-Yahoo! Finance
My New Normals was featured on the Sharecare Top 10 Social HealthMakers on MS

-Neurology Now Magazine
Nicole was featured in a Neurology Now Magazine article about dealing with a neurologic diagnosis during the holidays.

-New Orleans Times Picayune
Jane Pic Adams wrote a profile of Nicole, which was published in the New Orleans Times Picayune

-Everyday Health
Beth W. Orenstein wrote a profile of Nicole on the website Everyday Health

-The National MS Society
A profile of Nicole is featured on The National MS Society website

Guest Speaker & Consultant
-Health Union Conference – Philadelphia, PA
-Novartis MS Blogger Summit – Chicago, IL
-EMD Serono/Pfizer Blogger Summit – Boston, MA
-National MS Society, On The Move Luncheon – New Orleans, LA
-MS Blogger Novartis Advisory Board – Morristown, NJ
-WEGO Health Socialpalooza Conference – Boston, MA
-Delta Airlines – Memphis, TN
-National Disability Institute – Webinar
-MS Support Group – Mandeville, LA
-MS Self-Help Group – Metairie, LA
-MS Support Group (Ochsner Baptist Hospital) – New Orleans, LA
-Working Mother Research Institute | Women and MS: The Working Mother Report – Webinar

Television & Radio
-2019 Cures For All Campaign (Video Billboards) – Times Square – New York, NY
-2019 Music Video Cameo – London On Da Track, G-Eazy – Throw Fits ft. City Girls & Juvenile – New Orleans, LA
-Fox News 8 – New Orleans, LA
-WPLG News – Miami, FL

Books
-MS-My Story, A Collection of Inspirational Voices, by Liz Pearl
“Keep Moving Forward” by Nicole Lemelle (Contributing Author)

-Chronic Resilience: 10 Sanity-Saving Strategies for Women Coping with the Stress of Illness, by Danea Horn
Chapter 6: “Call in the Troops and Put Them Through Boot Camp” (Featured Interview)

Awards

2023:
-10 Popular MS Blogs to Check Out in 2023– EverydayHealthHealth.com
-Featured Blogger For MS Awareness Week 2023– MotherToBaby.org

2022:
-10 MS Influencers That Inspire– HealthCentral.com
-The Best Resources for MS Treatment Advice– Healthline.com
-2022 Social Health Awards Nominee: Community Cultivator – WEGO Health

2021:
-12 Popular MS Blogs to Check Out in 2021– EverydayHealth.com

2020:
-The Top 10 MS Blogs to Follow in 2020– EverydayHealth.com
-Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2020 – Healthline.com
-2020 Nominee Best In Show: Facebook- WEGO Health 9th Annual Health Activist Awards
-Received Proclamation for Progressive MS Day in the State of Louisiana – State of Louisiana

2019:
-13 Inspirational Blogs For Traveling With Disabilities (2019)  – PortSkipper.com
-Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2019 – Healthline.com
-The Best Disability Bloggers To Follow in 2019 – Age UK Mobility – ageukmobility.co.uk

2018:
-2018 Top 50 Multiple Sclerosis Blogs – Feedspot.com
-Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2018 – Healthline.com
-50 Best Medical Blogs of 2018 – CablesandSensors.com
-10 Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2018 – EverydayHealth.com

2017:
-2017 Top 25 MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Blogs – HealthLabs.com
-2017 Nominee Best In Show: Facebook- WEGO Health Sixth Annual Health Activist Awards
-2017 Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs- Medical News Today
-The Top 10 Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2017 – Findatopdoc.com
-The Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2017- Healthline.com
-100 Best Blogs for Disabled People and Carers 2017- StairLiftsReviews.co.uk

2016:
-The Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2016- Healthline.com
-2016 National MS Society Bike MS Champion – National MS Society South Central Region

2015:
-The Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2015- Healthline.com
-2015 National MS Society Bike MS Champion – National MS Society South Central Region

2014:
-2014 Nominee Best In Show: Facebook- WEGO Health Fourth Annual Health Activist Awards
-The Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2014- Healthline.com
-Top 10 Social HealthMakers on Multiple Sclerosis 2014- Sharecare.com
-Volunteer Leader in the Movement March 2014- National MS Society – South Central
-TOP BLOGGER APRIL 2014- MSstation™ Bloggers & Poets

2013:
-The Best MS Blogs of 2013- Healthline.com
-2013 Nominee Best In Show: Blog- WEGO Health Third Annual Health Activist Awards
-19 Absolutely Outstanding MS Blogs- KwikMed.org

I am married to Tommy Lemelle and we reside in New Orleans, LA.

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My New Normals

My New Normals is a personal blog and website that chronicles life experiences of people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). My New Normals provides an outlet to families, friends, caregivers and anyone living with MS or any other debilitating disease. Our goals are to raise national awareness and educate the public about MS.

We want to generate conversation, promote advocacy, highlight resources and inspire hope.

To Follow Nicole and My New Normals:

Twitter: @nclark140

Facebook: My New Normals

Web: www.mynewnormals.com

What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can affect people on an emotional, psychiatric, cognitive, sexual and physical level. More than 400,000 Americans (as well as about 2.5 million people worldwide) currently live with the often-devastating effects of the incurable, unpreventable autoimmune disease. MS affects the brain and spinal cord and, thus, the entire central nervous system. It is a potentially debilitating disease in which your body’s immune system eats away at the protective sheath that covers your nerves. This interferes with the communication between your brain and the rest of your body. Ultimately, this may result in deterioration of the nerves themselves, a process that’s not reversible.

Symptoms vary widely, depending on the amount of damage and which nerves are affected. People with severe cases of multiple sclerosis may lose the ability to walk or speak. Multiple sclerosis can be difficult to diagnose early in the course of the disease because symptoms often come and go — sometimes disappearing for months.