Published: April 17, 2026
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
One look inside LaVonya Jones’ office reveals exactly where she draws her inspiration.
Staggered on a shelf behind her desk are about a dozen Barbie dolls in unopened boxes. They’re not the traditional fashion figures, but are modeled after women who’ve changed history: Maya Angelou. Michelle Obama. Venus Williams. Each represents a strong woman’s story.
LaVonya started collecting the dolls while working as a counselor at Whitney Young Elementary in the Jefferson County Public Schools system in Louisville, Kentucky. Now the assistant principal at Indian Trail Elementary, she brought them with her as symbols — of who her students can aspire to become, and of the women who embodied strength that she’s needed to lean on while fighting a battle uniquely her own.
“They’re inspiring, inspiring women,” LaVonya said. “And it was for the kids at first, just so they could come in and see them. But then I started thinking about it and realized they’re not only inspiring to my students, but they’re also inspiring to me. And you know, they say, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’”
Sixteen years ago, that idea became personal. LaVonya’s life changed when she suddenly lost vision in one eye. At the time, she was teaching college-level classes at the University of Phoenix when her sight abruptly went dark. Soon after, her legs began to feel unsteady, like she had to physically lift them out of bed. Initially, she thought she had a sinus issue, but during a doctor’s appointment, she became violently ill when he tilted her head. Concerned, she called a good friend who was an ophthalmologist.
“She told me, ‘Get in here immediately!’” LaVonya said. “‘If we don’t get your vision restored in 24 to 48 hours, it’s going to be too late.’”
LaVonya went straight to the emergency room. Her mind raced with speculation, as physicians ran test after test. Then came the diagnosis — multiple sclerosis, also known as MS.
“I remember being mad. I mean, why couldn’t it be something else?” she said. “Why couldn’t I just be pregnant or something? I was just thinking in my head, “What is this?’”
Angry and confused, LaVonya searched for answers. She combed the internet. She visited bookstores, desperate for information. Her research only furthered her anxiety.
“The internet was a whole rabbit hole,” she said. “It was telling me I’d be dead by the time I’m 50. It was [saying] all these things, and eventually, I said to myself, ‘Hold on, you’ve got to bring things back into perspective.’ I rely heavily on my faith, as well, so I was praying, and I was just like, ‘God, lead me to know what I’m supposed to feel.’”
Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system that disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body. The immune system attacks myelin, the protective covering of the nerve fibers, interrupting signals and potentially causing permanent nerve damage.
Symptoms of MS vary widely, depending on the person and the extent of the nerve damage. Some people lose the ability to walk independently or move at all. Others may experience long periods remission without new symptoms. Currently, there’s no cure for MS, but treatments can speed the recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage symptoms.
There are four broad types of MS that can be independent of one another or represent a progression.
LaVonya found care quickly. A referral led her to Norton Neuroscience Institute and Roy J. Meckler, M.D., who worked with her to develop a treatment plan that helped manage her symptoms. For years, that meant daily self-administered injections, along with support from the Norton Neuroscience Institute Hussung Family Multiple Sclerosis Center.
Still, LaVonya kept her diagnosis mostly private. The way she heard others talk about MS was discouraging and painful, and she was already stretched thin, both physically and emotionally.
“I tend to overextend myself a lot and pay for it on the back end the next day,” LaVonya said. “I’m still working on that, because usually everyone else comes before me. And I was OK with that, had been OK with that. But I wasn’t taking care of myself first.”
Despite the health challenges, LaVonya persevered. She continued building her career in education, rising from special education teacher to academic coach, then counselor, and ultimately, to her current position as assistant principal. She formed lifelong bonds with her students, impacting their lives inside the classroom and out.
“I love the kids,” she said. “I always tell people I have 600 kids. None of my own, but all the students over the years have been my kids. When I was a counselor, I was the all-in counselor, knocking on their door, coming to get them. I was the ‘You [need to] come to school’ counselor. Their futures mean the world to me.”
Now settled in both her life and career, LaVonya felt like it was time to share her story.
After Dr. Meckler retired, she began care with Geeta A. Ganesh, M.D., MPH, neurologist and MS specialist at Norton Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Ganesh has helped LaVonya continue managing her symptoms and transition from injections to oral medication, easing the strain on her body. Once a year, MRI scans monitor her disease progression.
“We still make sure the term ‘stable’ is describing every part of her care,” Dr. Ganesh said. “It’s very essential we make sure there is not breakthrough disease activity. We also have to do the appropriate bloodwork with her. Finally, we listen — about her symptoms and whether they’re getting worse. We always strive to make sure a patient’s quality of life is the best it can be.”
LaVonya has good days and bad, like most people. Her fatigue hasn’t disappeared entirely, but she’s learned to listen to her body, give herself grace and stop measuring her worth by how much she can push through. And when she needs a reminder of her own strength, she turns around for a quick peek at the iconic women behind her, who give her the determination to look forward.
“I can just turn around and say, ‘OK, well, they got my back,’ she said. “And it helps me tell my students not to quit. I tell them they’ve got to let their light shine. Sure, I’ve had things that have taken me back a few steps. And maybe it’s taken me longer to get to the destination where I was going. But I got there. And you can, too.”
“It was a big deal for me to hear LaVonya share her story,” Dr. Ganesh said. “It puts a lot of perspective on things, because it makes me aware there are quite a few people out there who don’t tell others they are struggling, and it makes it even more important for me to make sure my patients are living their best lives.”
If you, or someone you know, is looking for help with an MS diagnosis, learn more about comprehensive, compassionate care and support — all in one place.