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NORTH ATTLEBORO - Nicole Caron will see her senior year at North Attleboro High in September. She's grateful for that. Seeing.

Caron, 17, almost didn't see her junior year at NAHS. During her sophomore year, several fingers went numb after she attended a soccer camp. Soon, there were excruciating headaches. Then, blurred vision in her left eye, diagnosed as optic neuritis. When doctors examined the eye, they discovered Caron had multiple sclerosis.

More physical woes followed. Exhausted and isolated, she had to learn to inject herself with a daily steroid regimen.

"But she never missed an assignment," said her proud mother, Judy. "Her guidance counselor, Mrs. Gay, has been amazing."

With the help of teachers and counselors, Caron got her grades back up, and is now a member of the National Honor Society. Despite her illness - and because of it - Caron has become a certified nursing assistant, working at Life Care Center in Attleboro. She plans to become a nurse. In October, she was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune for a front-page story about the alarming rise in teenagers with MS.

SUN CHRONICLE: You just were asked to write a speech for the North Attleboro/Plainville Chamber of Commerce entitled, "What constitutes success and happiness?" What did you write about?

NICOLE CARON: I wrote about stages in life that I consider to be successful, such as a first step, or a license. Then, I wrote about choices that can't be controlled, such as Helen Keller being deaf, blind and mute. Even through all of that, she was determined and accomplished a lot. I could relate to her. I want to make a difference. Everyone defines success differently, and everyone can be successful.

SUN CHRONICLE: Describe how you came to realize something was going terribly wrong with your body, the progression.

NICOLE CARON: In August of 2005, I came home from soccer camp and had three numb fingers. I assumed that I hurt myself at camp, and it cleared up within three weeks. Then, toward the end of October, I had a continuous migraine that would not go away.

Five days later, I was having trouble seeing out of my left eye. It looked like the flashes that appear after a picture is taken, except that they didn't go away. I saw an array of doctors who suspected I could have multiple sclerosis.

Their suspicions turned into reality after I had an MRI that showed lesions on my brain and a spinal tap that showed four bands (which usually means MS). I was diagnosed in mid-November with MS. After the diagnosis, I suffered blurred vision in my right eye and numbness in my right leg. I have to give myself a shot every night to keep my T cells under control, and I was extremely fortunate to regain my vision and feeling back.

SUN CHRONICLE: How scared were you of going blind?

NICOLE CARON: I was terrified. It took me a long time to adjust to the news. I always knew that I could become blind, but honestly, the reality of it didn't really set in until I went to camp in August of 2006. It was MS Camp, and I met two people that will forever inspire me. One was 12, and he had MS. His optic nerve died and he is now blind. He inspired me because he was so brave and positive about everything, and he did everything that we did.

The other boy had cognitive impairment, and, in 2005, he couldn't walk, but when I went to camp, he was doing really well. He could walk, he was determined and was making progress. Seeing the reality of everything scared me a lot, but it also inspired me. I will do anything that I can to stay healthy and remain positive. SUN CHRONICLE: You have no fear of needles. Not everyone can self-inject daily without flinching. What's that like?

NICOLE CARON: I can't say that I enjoy taking a shot every night, but it is what I have to do. I have to make sure that I rotate my sites so that scar tissue doesn't build up.

I have seven sites, one for each day of the week. I inject my hips, legs, arms and stomach. I count to 10 and then I am done. I just keep telling myself that 10 seconds a day to be healthy isn't bad at all.

SUN CHRONICLE: So, what do you fear?

NICOLE CARON: Obviously, I fear what can happen in the future. I don't ever want to be blind or paralyzed. For now, I try to focus on the positive things in my life. More and more medications are being tested, and, hopefully, someday, there will be a cure. Whatever is meant to be will happen, and I will have to live with it. So, for now, I do everything and anything I can to be healthy and happy.

SUN CHRONICLE: How did you deal with the diagnosis, then find the strength to overcome?

NICOLE CARON: I was really scared at first, but I was also relieved to know what was going on. I was pulled off of the soccer team due to everything, and I secretly thought that I had a brain tumor. That was very hard for me, and I later found out that my parents were thinking the same.

I cried a lot and felt sorry for myself, and I isolated myself from almost everyone. A few good friends stood by my side, but I wouldn't tell anyone else until I had coped with the news, some two months later. My Mom told me that I could sit and mope, or I could make a difference. My Dad told me that he and my uncle were going ride the MS150, a 150-mile bike ride, in honor of me. I decided to make a difference, and my Dad and I raised almost $9,000.

I have an amazing guidance counselor and several wonderful teachers that have all been very understanding and supportive. I am now very positive, and try to educate people about this terrible disease, so that it will cause them to want to make a difference, too, and a cure will be found.

SUN CHRONICLE: Do you think if this hadn't happened to you, you would have had any interest in nursing?

NICOLE CARON: I honestly have no idea, but I do know that it would have taken me a lot longer to figure that out. I had an RN named Ken that would come to my house to help me with my IV steroids. The steroids helped calm my T cells.

Ken let me help him, and I was really interested. Also, my MS doctor at Mass General Hospital, Dr. Chitnis, inspired me. She is an amazing doctor. A coordinator at my school told me about a certified nursing assistant program at Lifecare Center of Attleboro. She got me into the program, and it was such an amazing opportunity. I love working there.

SUN CHRONICLE: More and more young people are being diagnosed with MS. What would you say to them?

NICOLE CARON: I would just tell them to stay positive and to take their medication. I think they should get involved, too.

SUN CHRONICLE: Do you regret having to grow up this fast? Or has it prepared you much better for what's ahead?

NICOLE CARON: It would be easier if I didn't have to grow up so quickly, but I don't regret it at all. I don't take things for granted anymore, and I try my hardest not to sweat the small stuff. I am very grateful for that, because now I can enjoy life and I feel lucky for every moment that I have.

DO YOU HAVE A SUBJECT for this feature? Contact James A. Merolla at 508-236-0431 or at jmerolla@thesunchronicle.com.