MS diagnosis led Ruben Ascencio to pursue powerboat racing passion

Ruben Ascencio speaks about racing and multiple sclerosis during the first day of the Thunder on the Cumberland boat races on the Cumberland River in Nashville, Tenn

Ruben Ascencio stood*at the edge of the loading dock, slowly*zipping*his orange jumpsuit up to his neck. He carefully strapped*his gloves — right hand, then left — and tested*the grip. Holding his helmet on his waist, he*stared*out onto the Cumberland River, the latest obstacle in his life.

In front of him, boats*touched down on the water for Nashville's Thunder on the Cumberland Formula 1 Powerboat race. The boats, reaching speeds up to 100 miles per hour, created tiny*waves that reached the edge of the dock, where Ascencio and his team*prepared*for Saturday's first heat.

A thunderous rev of the boat's engine, a quick thumbs up and Ascencio was*released into the water, his comfort zone.

"Let's do this," he said*to his team around him.

Ascencio, a Detroit native, has been doing this for parts of 12 years now and he's found success on the water. In 2006, his first season competing, he won Rookie of the Year. Last season, he finished*top 10 in two races.*

When Ascencio competes, he's not just*battling his fellow racers, or the ever-changing course conditions of*the Formula Lights*circuit.

He's also battling a disease.

The symptoms began about 13 years ago. Ascencio, who worked in the financial industry at the time, remembers the sudden, uncontrollable dizziness he'd feel at a moment's notice. An inability to sleep at night. The swift numbness in his fingers, and the loss of sensation that followed.

As his symptoms continued to build, Ascencio sought*medical help. Sitting in a doctor's office with his wife, Rina, a nervous Ascencio received the news.
He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

"I honestly didn't know what to think," Ascencio recalled.

Multiple sclerosis*is an autoimmune disease that attacks the body's immune system, breaking down nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This disruption of communication between the brain and other parts of the body prevents normal passage of sensations and control messages, leading to many of the symptoms Ascencio felt.

In the waking moments of his diagnosis, a wave of questions rushed over Ascencio.*

For about six months, Ascencio faced the darkest period of his life. He struggled to come to terms with his newly discovered disease. He'd gone through multiple neurologists, and none of them seemed to be the right fit.

Then one day, he*received a nudge from his wife.*

"This is not a death sentence," Rina Ascencio recalls telling her husband. "It might impair your way of life in the future, but let's just focus on the good stuff right now."

It was that talk, Ascencio says, that helped him past the initial grieving stage*of his life. In the following months, Ascencio took his wife's advice and focused on the good things in his life. This*prompted him to pursue his love for racing — specifically, powerboat racing.

Ascencio spent time mastering the rules of the sport. He searched online and found a powerboat for sale. Nervously, he asked his wife a question that changed his life.

"What would you say if I wanted one of these boats?" Ascencio asked, not sure what her response would be.

"You should really do it," she replied without hesitation.

Now in his 12th season as a professional racer, Ascencio's No. 65 Copaxone suit is a familiar sight among the Formula Lite circuit.

His wife doubles as his crew chief. She can be seen on the dock with a pair of headphones on, communicating with her husband from a distance. Ascencio's two children*— one boy and one girl —*attend races with him, offering support whenever they can. It's become a family business.

When it comes to MS, management is key. Ascencio has found a regimen that works for him.*

"Once you get a hold of that," Ascencio says, "Some good things will happen."

While his success in the sport has renewed his outlook on life, it doesn't compare to the joy he feels sharing his stories with those in the MS community.

About 10-15 times per year, Ascencio travels the country to speak to newly diagnosed MS patients, as part of his*partnership with Teva Pharmaceuticals. He answers their questions, like the many he had shortly after being diagnosed himself. He openly talks about the six-month dark period that followed. He attempts to relay the importance of management and a good support staff, and how that's helped him discover his new passion.

Ascencio believes it's his responsibility to use his platform to inspire people who've struggled like he has. He'll be the first to admit it didn't start off this way, but he's come to realize the*communication within the MS community is therapeutic.

"I feel terrible because I come into these conversations as part of the speaking program, but I take stories and encouragement from these folks," Ascencio said with a smile. "It's a give and take, and more times than not, I'm taking a bunch of good stuff from those folks."

There are days when Ascencio doesn't*feel*well. He*has to take three shots per week to combat his symptoms. The travel — like the 13-hour drive from his current home in Dallas to Nashville — can be exhausting.

But there's one message Ascencio uses to inspire others: If you show up, you're in the game.

In a way, the message inspires himself, too.

"Dreams don't stop with a diagnosis," Ascencio said. "They might change, they might get shifted around, but there's always a challenge. Find your dreams and go for it."

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