An Edmonton woman had to shut down her flower shop after she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2024, and now she is helping others with the same condition.

“On that Mother’s Day, my leg stopped working again at the shop, and I couldn’t bring food to my mouth,” Mary Tibbetts explained.

Tibbetts ran a flower shop in Edmonton back in 2018, but had to sell her business when she was diagnosed with MS, a chronic condition where the body’s autoimmune system attacks the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves that affect emotions and the ability to walk. 

Mary Tibbetts, diagnosed with MS. (Leo Cruzat, CityNews)

“Before I lived in high stress, high anxiety had to be the best of the best of the best to get diagnosed, and now I’m just grateful that my toes work every single day,” said Tibbetts.

After being diagnosed, she saw the lack of community support for MS patients, resulting in the creation of the MS Nation Community Foundation that offers movement classes, counselling, and community meetups.

Members of the MS Nation Community Foundation. (Courtesy: Mary Tibbetts)

“I want it to be a place where people who are living with MS or their caregivers or their children or even just people who know them that need to understand what it is can come and feel welcome.”

According to MS Canada, the disease affects an estimated 90,000 Canadians. The cause is still unknown, but it suggests it is a result of environmental lifestyle and genetics.

Members of the MS Nation Community Foundation. (Courtesy: Mary Tibbetts)

“Typically, they get it between the years of 20 and 40 … It does affect women more than it affects men. Something like three times more women, two to three times. More women get MS than men, and so that’s one clear risk factor. It also seems to be, you know, much more common in those people who live in the North,” said Jason Plemel, an associate professor at the University of Alberta Department of Medicine.

Despite Tibbett’s condition, she wants to help other people. The charity already has 120 members since its opening two years ago. The foundation is currently operating inside Chartwell retirement home, but hopes it will have its own roof.