Graphos family rallies behind fight against MS

Walk MS shirts and photos adorn the walls at Sam’s Super Samwiches, and for good reason. Owner Sam Graphos and his wife, Sue, have organized Walk MS fundraising teams for the past 20 years, since their daughter Suzanne’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis at age 20. In 2011 they found out their son, Ted, then 41, was also diagnosed with the disease.

Altogether, the Sam’s Super Samwiches team has raised more than $400,000 for MS research. In 2014, their 52-member team brought in more than $26,516 for Walk MS: Birmingham; of that amount, Sue and Sam personally raised $18,991.

“I wish I didn’t have to do it,” Sue said. “I wish I had never heard of MS. But that’s what we do.”

Four times, the Graphoses have attended the Tour of Champions event that recognizes top fundraisers and volunteers across the National MS Society.

With the autoimmune disease, often confused with muscular dystrophy, the immune system attacks myelin, the fatty substance that surrounds and insulates the nerve fibers, and the nerve fibers themselves. The damaged myelin forms scar tissue (sclerosis), which gives the disease its name.

The resulting distorted nerve impulses affect everyone differently. For Suzanne, it has been her spinal cord, and for Ted, he has lost vision in one eye. For others, its effects are cognitive.

“If you talk to 10 people, they will have 10 different symptoms,” Sue said. “It depends on where the disconnect occurs. It’s completely unpredictable.”

Since their involvement began, the Graphoses have seen strides in research. In 1994 when Suzanne was diagnosed, there was only one drug available to treat the symptoms. Now there are 12.

Still, the family says they will rally on.

“The goal is to find a cure,” Sue said. “Without the walk, it’s not going to happen.”

Current research is trying to figure out how to regenerate myelin.

“Even though it’s frustrating because you want them to hurry up, they are coming up with drugs to treat the symptoms,” Sue said.

The fundraising is particular meaningful to the Graphos family because so much MS research is also done nearby. Sixty percent of funds raised at the Birmingham walk come back to the state.

Sue said they are “beyond fortunate” to have neurologists specializing in MS in Birmingham. Suzanne sees Dr. Khurram Bashir, director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at UAB, while Ted sees Dr. John Riser, medical director at the Tanner Center for Multiple Sclerosis. Sue said patients come from all over to see them.

Six weeks before Walk MS each year, Sue sends out about 250 self-addressed stamped envelopes with letters asking for financial support and members for the Sam’s team. The next few weeks feel like Christmas as the responses come in, she said.

“No amount is too small,” she tells friends. “If all you can send is $2, that’s $2 we didn’t have. Every dollar is appreciated and put to good use.”

Some team members have supported them from day one, and new walk members join each year too.

“If you talk to enough people, everyone has a connection to MS,” Sue said. “We have a lot of wonderful family members, friends, and Sammy’s customer base is amazing.”

A jar has sat on the counter at Sam’s restaurant for 20 years with a sign requesting donations to “help change somebody’s life.”

“You’d be amazed how much money we get from it each year,” Sue said.

Despite all their fundraising strides, the Graphoses live with the reality of MS each day. 

The worst part for Suzanne is having a visible disability. She earned a master’s in speech language pathology after her diagnosis but has had trouble getting job offers and getting her contracts renewed for positions several times. She married four years ago but is on disability and performs speech evaluations for the state disability determination.

“Suzanne has an amazing attitude and has not let it stop her,” Sue said. “She has been my rock through all of this.”

Sue will quickly tell you that MS doesn’t just affect one person; it affects a patient’s family, drawing them together to “do what you have to do.” A strong support network is essential.

“I thought it was the end of the world in 1994, but came to realize it’s not the end of the world,” Sue said.