Hey there! I am Jake Stayrsky, a family man living in Denver, Colorado, with my lovely wife and two teenagers—a girl and a boy. Our lives revolve around embracing the great outdoors and soaking up the year-round sunshine (and occasional snow) that the beautiful state of Colorado offers.

My Life

Our family thrives on adventure, often engaging in outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and even ice skating. Prior to settling in Colorado, my wife and I explored various corners of the globe, living in Chicagoland, Illinois, and traversing Europe through England, Sweden, and Prague, Czech Republic—my hometown.
As a family, we share a passion for travel, having visited numerous National Parks in the Rocky Mountain region and explored destinations spanning Europe, Asia, and Central America.
Professionally, I wear the hats of a scientist and entrepreneur. You can delve into the intricacies of my work here. The journey to where I am today involved extensive travel, intriguing research projects, and eventually, the establishment of a company dedicated to developing groundbreaking therapeutics against cancer and other serious diseases.

The Diagnosis

So, my life looked like a parade of dreams fulfilled. That took a turn in 2021 when I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) in 2021 at the age of 41. The diagnosis brought a lot of uncertainty to my life, as I describe in more detail here. So far, this is a mere perception, a shadow on a wall, as no concrete health-related challenges have materialized, at least not for longer than a week here and there. I plan to keep up my active outdoorsy as well as globetrotting lifestyle with my family despite MS. However, I have re-evaluated a thing or two.

My Mission

I’ve decided to start blogging, combining my personal experiences with health challenges, particularly in the wake of my diagnosis. Coping with this new reality presented a formidable challenge, and I struggled to gather the needed information to navigate this uncharted territory. For example, I have found out quickly that being a male and over 40 at the time of diagnosis puts me in a group with a higher risk of faster MS progression. What does that mean exactly, though?
Without effective treatment, my RR-MS can turn into a secondary progressive type of MS in about ten years, potentially grounding me in a wheelchair. We all live in a colossal casino, and with each action and every turn of a corner, we confront the random whims of fate. I have decided that I will fight the house and alter the odds to avoid long-term disability and stay away from the wheelchair as long as I can (more here).
It occurred to me that others who receive the daunting news of a chronic illness diagnosis might face similar challenges. I hope you will appreciate reading about my MS adventures while continuing to live a fulfilling, active life and caring for my family. Undoubtedly, each individual’s journey is unique, and my approach to various life situations may not be universally applicable. Nevertheless, I intend to craft a blog that is as universally accessible as possible, and I will try to provide explanations for the decisions I’ve made.