For the first time, Ann Romney, wife of former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney, is opening up about her battle with multiple sclerosis and how it’s affected her life and family.
In a new book called “In This Together: My Story,” Romney shares intimate details from her early life, her marriage, her diagnosis, the highs and lows of her treatment and the sources of faith that gave her strength to move forward.
Romney recently sat down with EastIdahoNews.com and spoke about her book.
Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com: In your new book, “In This Together,” you write about sitting in a Sunday School class in the early 1990’s. Your life was perfect and then suddenly things changed.
Ann Romney, “In This Together” Author: It was really tough to know that there was something wrong with me but I didn’t know what it was. All of a sudden my life completely changed because I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. For me, that was a big turning point where everything had gone along just fine and I was very capable and strong. Then, all of a sudden, I was left with nothing and it was really a tough period in my life.
Eaton: You were in the doctor’s office with Mitt when you learned the news. Did you think it was a death sentence?
Romney: I knew it wasn’t a death sentence but I thought it was more of a prison sentence to my bed. I knew how tired and fatigued I was and I had no energy to do anything. I was losing control of the right side of my body and I was just overwhelmed with getting through the day. I thought my real life was over.
Eaton: It was really the move to Utah that changed everything, wasn’t it?
Romney: Yeah. It was kind of amazing. Fortunately I was able to get on some very good medication that stopped the progression of the disease because it was kind of eating me alive. I still had the fatigue so I had to find strategies to break through that fatigue. Part of it was horseback riding and part of it was reflexology and a few other things to just give me more energy. It didn’t happen overnight. It actually was a three year process that was gradual and it wasn’t easy but it gave me glimmers of hope and let me keep pushing on.
Eaton: You talk about reflexology in the book. You were a little hesitant to go because it was an old German man with knotted hands and you write that after you went, your feet were black and blue – it wasn’t like a foot massage.
Romney: No, it wasn’t but he was great. He ended up being my oompa after spending three years with him treating me. He was really helpful to me and it was all part of a combination of a lot of different things. He was really wonderful to take the time for me and love me like he did. It was his amazing loving relationship that gave me comfort and I trusted him. He was a gift in my life.
Eaton: How is your health today?
Romney: It’s great now. I count my blessings.
Eaton: When you look at the political debates and campaigns in full swing now, do you miss it?
Romney: Mitt and I, to tell you the truth, we high five every morning. We’re glad we’re not doing this. It’s tough. It’s tough on families, it’s grueling, you’re in a hotel every night, you’re on the road, and there’s enormous pressure as you’re being attacked. I never regretted doing it. I loved doing it because I believed in Mitt and I believed in this country and I believed it was worth it so it was an enjoyable experience but at the same time it’s very, very hard.
Eaton: Who do you think should be the next president?
Romney: I hope someone who has a vision and ability to bring people together to unite this nation. I hope it’s someone that is going to have the strength of character to rebuild American strength. I’m talking about having an ability to have an influence in the world. We can see things are unraveling in Syria right now and there’s a lot of things happening in the world that are disturbing. I can’t say one individual person yet I think we have some capable people on the Republican side that I would think would be very interesting.
Eaton: Your new book, “In This Together,” is available now. Proceeds go toward multiple sclerosis, right?
Romney: My proceeds go to the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases and that center not only studies multiple sclerosis but it studies Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson’s and brain tumors. We’re a neurologic research center.
Eaton: Last question. We are East Idaho News. How do you like your potatoes?
Romney: I like them baked with butter and salt.
