Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her 20s, Kat Finnerty was told she’d be in a wheelchair by 40. Instead, she rebuilt her health, overcame severe disability, and went from barely walking to running again at 51. Now facing a new relapse, Kat sits down with Mathew Embry to share how she’s navigating the setback and what her story can teach others living with MS.
Matt: I'm excited to introduce you to Kat Finerty. Kat was diagnosed with MS in [year]. Through sheer resilience and determination, this mom of three overcame severe mobility issues, going from barely being able to walk to running again. Well, first of all, thank you so much for joining us today.
Kat: Such an immense pleasure. Thank you.
Matt: You know, Kat, right now you are going through something that every single MS patient thinks about and worries about, a relapse. Can you tell us what's happened and what's going on?
Kat: Yeah, boy, this is a tough one. After spending years teaching about how to live well with MS and having an incredible recovery in my [age], I could hardly walk and then came back from it. I started doing a lot of what you do, promoting healthy living and thinking. It’s always in the back of your head. You know it could happen again, but you sort of think, “It’s okay, it’s not going to happen.”
Then last week, I started going numb in my right foot. I thought, “Nah, uh-uh,” and I ignored it at first. But then I realized, it’s happening. It’s really happening.
I wrote a book about becoming a master of disaster, and I thought, “This is showtime.” It’s easy to tell people to stay positive and focus on what they can control, but now it’s my turn to live it. So yes, my body is going numb, and the journey I’ve been on over the last week and a half with doctors has reminded me why I’m fighting to change things.
Matt: When a relapse starts to happen, are you getting an old symptom coming back, or is this something new?
Kat: This is something completely new, really. The first numbness that came in my leg, I recognized right away from one of my first symptoms, it was my left leg back then. Now my right foot started going numb, and then it spread.
Within days, I called my neurologist and said, “Listen, I want steroids.” I used to do methylprednisolone, but they said, “No, we’ll give you oral steroids.” I wasn’t thrilled about that, but they insisted. So I did five days of that, but the numbness is still there.
I’ve got some weakness in my arms, but I’m still able to run. I haven’t lost dexterity like I have in the past, so right now I’m just dealing with numbness and weakness.
Matt: When those symptoms start to come on, what’s the first thing that you think and what do you do?
Kat: The first thing I think is that everything in life is impermanent. You think it’s never going to come back, but I’ve always said to people: “I’ve cured myself of MS — but you’ll have to ask me when I’m dead if it worked or not.” And I’m not dead yet, so I guess it’s still a work in progress!
I was told I’d be in a wheelchair by now. Just a few days ago was my birthday, so I’m thinking, this has happened, and I believe stress played a part. I let a stressful situation run out of control, and stress really affects you.
So number one, I tell myself: don’t stress about it. Don’t go into a story of fear or doom. Reel it back. Manifest what you want to happen. I want to recover. I want to be fine. Every time a thought of dread comes into my head, I switch it, ditch it, and replace it with the thought I want.
Matt: What about actions — what do you start doing? Do you reexamine your diet or exercise routine? Is there anything you’ve let slip that you now need to bring back, or something that’s not working?
Kat: Yes, definitely. I was diagnosed years ago, and I met George Jelinek when he was basically starting out, it wasn’t even called Overcoming MS back then. I spent a week with George at the Gawler Foundation and was strict about diet and meditation.
I was very disciplined for nearly ten years — strict with diet, meditation, and lifestyle. But over time, I let it slip. I was still pretty good, but not perfect. I figured after my stem cell treatment and everything else I’d done, I was fine. So yes, now I’m right back on the strict diet again.
As for exercise, that’s interesting. I went to the MS clinic in Toronto for an appointment with physiotherapists. I can run again, I’m back to running 5 kilometers, but I have a funny gait and sometimes I fall over.
They told me, “You have to rest. Be careful. Don’t overwork. Hold onto something on the stairs.” I thought, “Oh my god, if I didn’t have the mindset I do, I’d fall straight into victimhood.”
So for me, it’s the opposite, I want to keep moving, to ramp it up.
Right now, if we go back to diet, nutrition and lifestyle are a huge part of my program, and a big part of what I advocate for.
Matt: What things in your diet do you think you let slip? What types of foods did you add back in?
Kat: Mostly dairy. I eat a whole foods diet, and I teach healing with whole foods — that’s really part of what I do — but dairy was definitely something I let back in. I still stay away from fried foods and try to avoid gluten, but dairy crept back.
Matt: So on a day like today, or once a relapse happens, where do you go with that? Do you stop it all together? Do you do a reset? Where are you at right now, talking to me?
Kat: I’m kind of crazy about it. I believe what I put in my mouth is not as important as being able to walk. Someone with a peanut allergy eats a peanut and they know right away. But with MS, you don’t realize the effects — it’s the buildup over time. You can’t always connect the dots and say, “Oh, I had ice cream that day, and now I’ve relapsed.”
So I remind myself that nothing is more important than staying well. George Jelinek taught me this about diet — you can focus on what you can’t eat, or you can focus on what you can eat. That’s a choice. I always say, you can choose how long you suffer for. I could sit and think, “I can’t eat this anymore,” or I can think, “There’s so much I can eat.” It’s all about gratitude.
Matt: A lot of people watching this struggle with discipline. I can tell just by looking at you that you’re a disciplined person — you’ve got that energy of an athlete. But can you speak to how hard it is to maintain that kind of discipline?
Kat: Some people are moderators — I’m not. I’m all or nothing. As soon as I let a little bit in, the floodgates open. That was true for alcohol, too, which I don’t drink anymore because one was too many and one wasn’t enough.
With discipline, it’s about taking it one meal at a time, one day at a time. I have non-negotiables. People say you shouldn’t have rules, but without rules, you have chaos. I like structure and rules.
Before this relapse, my rules were: I don’t eat wheat, dairy, or sugar. I don’t drink alcohol — except when I do. But that was my go-to structure. Now that I’ve had another relapse, I’m 100% strict again.
Matt: Let’s talk about the fear of relapse. I’ve lived with this disease too, and it’s something that triggers a lot of anxiety in people. You’ve made choices here not necessarily to “fight back,” but to recalibrate — to take back control. How important is that to your mindset?
Kat: This is how I’ve always handled my disease. Maybe we were diagnosed around the same time — I think you were about four years before me.
I don’t like to hand over my healthcare to anyone. I’m my own advocate. I’ve gone overseas for stem cell treatments. I believe in being proactive. If it’s going to be, it’s up to me. I can’t put my health and my life in someone else’s hands — I’m in control.
When you think a doctor or a pill is going to fix you, you give up that control. But when you’re strict with diet, exercise, and mindset, it gives you a sense of control over your life. And that’s so important — especially during a relapse, when it’s easy to feel powerless.
Matt: For a lot of people, the question is whether symptoms will go away or continue to progress. Those fears can be overwhelming. What would you say to people when those fears start to creep in?
Kat: One of my Master of Disaster principles — and I literally wrote the book on it — is radical acceptance. Whatever is happening, live in the now. This has happened. What can I do about it?
If you start spinning stories of fear, it drags you down — and that stress makes things worse. None of us are fortune tellers. None of us knows the future. But I believe in karma — we reap what we sow — and the things I do now can only improve my future.
I only have control over my thoughts and beliefs. It doesn’t help to think, “This might not get better” or “This could get worse.” Why go there? I believe every obstacle is an opportunity to become stronger. Strength is built through pain.
Life is suffering — birth, sickness, death — that’s the reality. Why should I be the only one to escape unscathed? People ask, “Why me?” But I ask, “Why not me?”
Matt: I remember when I had symptoms, it was the small things that helped me climb out of it. Each swim stroke felt like myelin regrowing. It was those gestures that gave me hope. How important are those small moments for you?
Kat: Huge. Yesterday, I met a guy on an MS bike ride — 75 kilometers, the longest I’ve ever done. That was a real “Yes, I did it!” moment.
Because I was coming here to Calgary to see you, I said, “Let’s do a bike ride.” He organized all these professional riders. I showed up thinking, “My leg and arms are weak… can I do this?” But I told myself, “Get some grit.”
And I did it. I was strong, I kept up, and I thought, “Yes, you can do this.” It’s an uphill battle — literally, in the Rocky Mountains — but that’s life. Just keep climbing, one step at a time.
Matt: With these new symptoms, do any of the feelings from your original diagnosis come back?
Kat: When I was first officially diagnosed, it was after my first son, Simon, was born. The neurologist looked down at my baby and said, “Don’t have any more children. You’ll likely be in a wheelchair by the time you’re 40. You’ll be on drugs for the rest of your life.”
I remember thinking, “Nope.” And that’s how I feel now — determined.
The doctor was wrong. I went on to have three kids in three years. But I did get very sick in my 30s when my daughter was born. I lost vision in one eye, my left leg barely worked, and even cutting food for the kids was hard. I reached a point where I didn’t want to live anymore.
I decided that if I ever ended up in a nursing home, unable to care for myself, I didn’t want to live like that. That’s when I made the decision — whatever it takes, I will heal myself.
Matt: How old were you, and what stage of life were you at when you made that choice to focus on exercise and nutrition?
Kat: Pretty much from the beginning. As a kid, I had migraines at six years old and would get sick from red food dye or taco seasoning. I learned early that what I put in my mouth affected me.
My mom died on my 30th birthday from colon cancer — diet played a big role. So I knew diet and exercise were key. From the start, I focused on what I could control: my thoughts, my movement, and what I put in my body.
Matt: When you started doing that, did you start to feel recovery?
Kat: Absolutely. I still had symptoms — my left leg dragged — but I felt so much better.
When I was first diagnosed, there wasn’t much information out there. Swank’s work was about all we had. It took me a few years to really get strict. I didn’t get serious until my daughter was two or three years old. Then I got strict, came off medication, and relied on diet and exercise alone.
Matt: That must have been difficult, especially with a young family. How hard was it to stick to the diet and program while raising kids?
Kat: Very hard — but possible. I’d make my kids’ food and not even taste it. I believe in keeping life simple. I’m happy eating the same thing every day. I don’t expect others to accommodate me — I’ll bring my own food. It’s fine.
So yes, it was challenging with a young family, but it’s doable.
Matt: That’s important for people to hear. It can be overwhelming to completely change the family meal plan. Do you think families should all eat the same, or should the person with MS eat separately?
Kat: In my world, I tried to have the whole family on the same program. My kids have seen the benefits physically and athletically. But I know not every family does that, and that’s okay too.
Kat: I’ve taught healing with whole foods for a long time. I always say: eat nature’s food, in nature’s wrapping. Eat whole foods.
I live in Vanuatu now. People there eat maybe seven or eight foods total — simple, real food. We’re so blessed with abundance that we make it complicated. Simplify it.
Be grateful for what you can eat, not resentful for what you can’t. Millions of people on this planet don’t even have that privilege.
Matt: That’s so true. People with MS often gain a new appreciation for things others take for granted — like walking up the stairs.
Kat: Exactly. When I stay at hotels, I always take the stairs — because I can. That’s my reminder.
Matt: For people watching this who are newly diagnosed or in a similar situation to where you were, what advice would you give?
Kat: Take your healing into your own hands. This latest relapse reminded me how little help there really is out there. You have to do your own research, take control, and be your own advocate.
Matt: This has been such an important conversation. You’re in the middle of it, living it, and that perspective is something the community really needs to hear.
Matt: What things in your diet do you think you were strict about before? What types of foods did you let back in?
Kat: I let back in dairy, mostly dairy. I eat a whole foods diet, and I teach healing with whole foods. That’s really part of what I do, but dairy was one thing I let back in for sure. I still stay away from fried foods. I still try to stay away from gluten, but mostly dairy.
Matt: So on a day like today, or once the relapse happens, where do you go with that? Do you stop it altogether, do a reset? Where are you today, talking to me?
Kat: I’m someone who believes what I put in my mouth is not as important as being able to walk. If someone has a peanut allergy and eats a peanut, they know right away. But with something like MS, you don’t realize the buildup. You can’t necessarily correlate, "I had ice cream that day and now I had a relapse." So it’s reminding myself that yes, diet is really important, but nothing is more important than staying well.
I also believe you can choose how you respond. You can focus on all the things you can’t eat, or you can practice gratitude for what you can eat. People struggle with discipline, but I’m the type of person who is all or nothing. With alcohol, I don’t drink anymore because one was too many and wasn’t enough. Discipline is about taking it one meal at a time, one day at a time. I have non-negotiables, and without rules, life can feel chaotic. Now, after another relapse, I am absolutely strict.
Matt: Can we talk about the fear of a relapse? It’s something huge, and your story is valuable because you’re in the midst of it.
Kat: I’ve always handled my disease proactively. I don’t like handing over my healthcare to anyone. I’ve even gone overseas for stem cells. Being strict with diet, exercise, and mindset gives me a sense of control. Many people feel fear and uncertainty during a relapse. I focus on what I can control. My belief is that strength is built on pain. Life involves suffering, and that’s universal. It’s not about why me, it’s about why not me.
Even small gestures helped me regain hope. Preparing my lunch, swimming and imagining myelin regrowing, taking small steps—it all reinforced that I could improve.
Matt: How old were you and what stage of life were you at when you made the choice to focus on exercise and nutrition?
Kat: I started early. I had migraines at age six and learned that diet affected my health. My mother died of colon cancer when I was twelve, which showed me the importance of nutrition. When I was first diagnosed with MS, I went hard from the start. My early thirties were challenging because I had three kids in three years and my diet wasn’t strict. After my daughter was two or three, I became fully strict, met George, and got non-negotiable about diet and lifestyle. That’s when I turned things around.
Matt: How did you manage that with a young family?
Kat: I made my kids’ food and didn’t even taste it myself. Life is simple if you let it be. I was okay eating the same thing every day. It’s challenging, but possible.
Matt: So do you suggest families follow the same diet or just for the person with MS?
Kat: In my world, we tried to have the whole family on the program. Kids saw the benefits for themselves. But it’s possible to just focus on your own diet if needed. Whole foods are key. Be grateful for what you can eat, not what you can’t.
Matt: What I really want to get through to people is that the second you start living in victimhood, that’s when you lose it. You lose your control. Get up and keep going, take one step.
Kat: Absolutely. The thought of a relapse is something I’ve lived with almost every day. The disease is slow, so you must stay aware. Many people I’ve met let off and fall off the cliff. Re-engaging with the MS community was hard for me, and I went through alcoholism at one point. But I felt obligated to help people and followed nudges from the universe.
Matt: There’s also a psychological component. Trauma and stress often play a role. How do you help people jump to a state of not being a victim?
Kat: I always ask, "What would your future self want you to do right now?" My happiness is no one else’s responsibility. My suffering is no one else’s fault. I’m the master of my disasters. Things happen, but how long I carry the pain is my choice. I’ve chosen to suffer hours, not years.
Matt: How do you reframe terrible events?
Kat: Be grateful for the problems you don’t have and notice what’s going right. For example, I had MS and three kids in three years. I struggled to walk, couldn’t teach classes as I used to. I had to find peace or I would have driven myself into despair. I found a Buddhist class that taught me to change perspective. I took one thing I hated, Vegemite, and learned to be okay with it. That was the moment I realized I could change my perception of everything I hated about my life.
Whenever challenges come, I choose to see them as opportunities. Life is about choices every day.
Matt: Where are you now in your journey?
Kat: I feel I’m doing well, and I want to get back in the game to help people. I know how to help myself and I will do it again.
Matt: How do you feel about the word "cure"?
Kat: Why not assume the best until proven otherwise? Thoughts become things. Fear is a choice. Believing I could recover helped me immensely.
Matt: How do you maintain positivity and energy constantly?
Kat: It takes as much energy to give love as it does to give hate, but love gives very different results. Being a master of disaster takes years of training. Without it, you’re a victim. Contentment is being happy and using that happiness to positively impact others. Suffering harms you and everyone around you.
Matt: Any simple exercises for starting the day right?
Kat: Wake up grateful and go to bed thankful. Notice everything going right. Compare with the wider world to appreciate your own blessings. Redirect focus from pain to gratitude.
Matt: Problems never stop coming. How do you deal with that?
Kat: Embrace empathy and compassion. Problems are part of life. Not why me, but why not me. Gratitude frees you from suffering. Bitterness and hate show on your face. Let go of them if you want true happiness.
Matt: Where can people find your book and how do you define hope?
Kat: My book is at catfinerity.com and available in all major formats including audiobook. Hope is realizing people have a choice in how long they suffer. Embrace challenges as a way to peace. The secret to having it all is knowing you already do. I have everything I need right here and now.
