After an MS diagnosis, this sailor charted a new course

[5 min read]

In this article: 

• After a diagnosis of MS, Jeanne Goussev turned to the experts at the world-renowned Providence Swedish MS Center for care. 
• Goussev is an adventurous athlete and refused multiple sclerosis change path.
• The genrosity of donors to the Swedish Foundation make this advanced care possible. 

Jeanne Goussev was accustomed to grabbing life by the horns — or, in her case, by the sails. She stayed busy as a wealth manager, mother of two, and champion sailor, captaining the first all-female team to victory in the 750-mile Race to Alaska adventure race in 2018.  

But in the fall of 2020, Jeanne woke up with sudden vertigo. Accompanied by high blood pressure, she rushed to the emergency room.  

“I had a very sudden onset of symptoms,” Jeanne recalls.  

While immediate threats like stroke were eventually ruled out, scans showed Jeanne had white matter on her brain. She was told to see a neurologist as soon as possible.   

Months of testing followed and, in March of 2021, Jeanne was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).  

“It was kind of the worst-case scenario, so I kept hoping that it wasn’t MS, thinking it’s something else. It was very shocking,” she says.   

Redefining her path  

Following her life-changing diagnosis, Jeanne was decisive in how she would proceed.  

“I think that when you get a diagnosis like this, you go through all the stages of grief in a really interesting way,” she recalls. “There was a huge sense of loss, but also, I’m a fighter, and I don’t like other outside things to dictate to me what I can and can’t do.” 

“The MS Center is a special place, and I know philanthropy has had a huge part in creating that space. For those that want to make an impact on patients and patient care, it’s an incredible place to be involved.” 

One of Jeanne’s first steps was to find community, joining the board of the National MS Society right away. Her next? Seeking out medical care that worked for her.  

“I’ve always said one of the most important things you can do with any illness is to choose your doctors,” she says. “Your doctors are going to be your strongest partners in your care and in how you feel and how you’re working through everything, from managing your symptoms to treatment options.”  

That’s why, after a year of treatment, Jeanne switched her care to Providence Swedish Multiple Sclerosis Center. She’d heard about the MS Center’s international reputation and holistic approach to care. Once she met with her primary physician, Kathryn Fong, M.D., she knew she was going to be in good hands.  

“My entire team was on a group chat, talking through my care,” Jeanne says. “Everybody from hematology to neurology, my primary care physician and the hospital staff, everybody was on the same page.” 

That’s what sets Providence Swedish MS Center apart: our caregivers’ commitment to prioritizing all aspects of a patient’s journey, including medication, symptom management, and their emotional and physical well-being. And, thanks to philanthropy, the MS Center is able to offer robust wellness programs, including the renowned Adventure Program, which helps patients stay active and engaged in their communities. Activities such as adaptive skiing, skydiving, and mountain climbing become accessible, helping patients live life well.   

The adventurous life  

True to her words, Jeanne is still very much a fighter. Before her diagnosis, Jeanne captained Team Sail Like a Girl to that historic all-female win in 2018. She raced again afterward, but her team faced bad luck and equipment failures, resulting in a loss. Later, despite her diagnosis, Jeanne set out to race again. 

In 2023, she raced alongside her husband and friends, a team of eight on a 40-foot boat. There were times, even in the frigid conditions, where she had to pack her body with ice as it was overheating, take extra sleep shifts, and once again, show just how much inner and outer strength it took to complete the race. But as they approached the finish in first place, miles ahead of any other boat, Jeanne remembers reflecting on how grateful she was that her body let her function for 750 miles of hard work. 

There are still hard days, days in which getting from her bed to the bathroom is a battle. But she’s eternally grateful for the care she’s received from Providence Swedish MS Center and the opportunity it’s afforded her to raise awareness for the cause.  

“The MS Center is a special place, and I know philanthropy has had a huge part in creating that space,” she says. “For those that want to make an impact on patients and patient care, it’s an incredible place to be involved.” 

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