Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) just months after welcoming his first child in 1993, Tom Soranno, a U.S. Marine and Ph.D. toxicologist, suddenly found his life turned upside down. Early treatment options were limited, and as his symptoms progressed, both his physical health and emotional well-being were affected. Tom continued to work but a significant decline was apparent by 2000.
But in the early 2000s, Tom was referred to Dr. Mary Ann Picone, Medical Director of the MS Center at Holy Name, and everything changed. Tom stopped working and began long-term disability. With access to advanced MS therapies and a specialized care team, he found a treatment plan that helped stabilize his disease. Today, more than 30 years after his diagnosis, Tom remains stable and ambulatory as he approaches his 70th birthday, continuing to self-administer glatiramer acetate subcutaneously three-times per week.
And Holy Name helped him heal more than physically. Living with MS took a significant toll on Tom’s mental health as he tried to adjust to his expectations of being a US Marine veteran, husband, father, provider, Ph.D., and able-bodied man. He is also a breast and prostate cancer survivor. Although he often “looked fine,” he struggled with anxiety, depression, and the loss of his identity. In July 2022, the MS Center connected him with Andrea Greene, LCSW, whose individual and group therapy sessions helped him regain a sense of purpose.
“After years of therapy, I have accepted my diagnosis and limitations. Those sessions helped me feel whole again,” Tom says.
Through therapy, programs like Andrea’s Mindful Mondays series, and educational lunch and learn sessions through the MS Center, he learned practical tools to manage stress and anxiety. The connections he formed proved just as powerful—so much so that a few participants from a group therapy session continue to meet more than three years later. They have nicknamed themselves The Greene Team as a nod to their therapist and continue to support one another beyond the formal program.
“The MS Center didn’t just help my body,” he says. “It helped me find my way back to meaningful days.”
Today, grounded and optimistic, Tom embraces new hobbies, leans on his faith, friends, family, and remains resolute. He is forever grateful to be supported by a care team that understands that living well with MS means caring for both mind and body.
