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By renewing our driver’s license at the DMV, most of us are aware of the process of registering to become an organ donor should the worst come to pass. But there is another group of organ donors — living donors — who are helping relatives, friends and even strangers by donating a kidney or part of their liver. Living donors who choose to give a kidney — the most commonly donated organ — can live a full life with the remaining kidney.

Nikeyia Ingram, 38, who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) at just 6 months old, experiences pain nearly every day due to the red blood cell disorder. Most days, she’s able to treat the pain and manage her disease by controlling her stress, staying hydrated and keeping in touch with her medical team. Lately, Ingram has been finding that grief has been affecting her ability to manage her disease. Last year, she lost her 15-year-old, Demetrius Ingram, her only son, in a car accident. The heartache exacerbates her pain.

As annoying — and agonizing — as it can be, pain is a common and important signal from your body. It’s a sign that something needs attention, and, once you’ve given it that attention and the pain lessens, its absence is an indication that you’re healing.

For all we know about multiple sclerosis (MS) – a chronic disease where a person’s immune system attacks their central nervous system and causes fatigue, bladder issues and pain, among other symptoms – there are still a lot of misconceptions around the condition. Read on to learn what’s fact and what’s fiction when it comes to MS.