Bibianne >> There’s a picture in my room
it’s me looking so over the moon
standing next to my piano. You can tell I was meant to love piano.
It was just one of those things that was in my heart.
I was a piano teacher all my life until 2016
My name is Bibianne Yu. I am 47 years old
and I was diagnosed with MS in 2008
Dr. Montalban >> We have a large population of patients with multiple sclerosis
probably the second largest clinic in North America
and the second largest clinic in the world
That makes a difference.
Bibianne >> Especially at first, not having touched a piano since 2016
that was a little cold and a little harsh
If you have numbness in your hand and you cannot play the way you used to,
it’s kind of like going to an electronic piano.
instead of a grand piano, you know you're taking a step back.
That was a good reminder of what MS is about
It’s a matter of remembering that it’s constant adjustment.
I think Dr. Montalban made a great big impression on me.
The very first time I met him, I said, ‘I’m going to fight this.
That’s what we all say.
He took a hold of my arm and said,
I don’t know if we want to use the word fight
because that indicates that you could win or you could lose.
Dr. Montalban>> What we are building here in Toronto, is unique.
On one hand, we have, unfortunately,
a huge population of patients.
On the other hand, we have
we have quite a number of outstanding neurologists and professionals,
and we have now a very nice space
a unique space,
and we will have the knowledge,
the investment, and the commitment of many stakeholders.
I think that the potential of research
at St. Michael's is huge.
And we, perhaps in the future, can modify
the prognosis of the disease
That would be our goal
to establish, to stabilize
the neurodegenerative components of Multiple Sclerosis.
Bibianne>> I think the best thing that somebody said to me
when I was first dealing with all these MS symptoms was,
‘You’re not giving up, you’re just giving over.’
You’re asking for help because you’re just giving over to what you need done,
and I think that takes care of a lot of frustration.
Piano has always been almost like a bridge
that I use to create relationships with people.
It’s more of a create the relationship in a different way.
you have to adjust to what it is you need to do
as it stands right now,
the adjustments have been really satisfying.
I feel very fortunate that I’m in Toronto
There is a lot with St. Mike’s Hospital and
the doctors and neurologists there
they really do take good care of their MS patients.
Dr. Montalban>> This is a brilliant city.
I think that St. Mike’s itself but also city-wide,
the University of Toronto,
Everyone is very much committed to fight against
neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative diseases.
We can make it here, in this city, in this country.
I am very sure about that.