Josh and Lauren Adkins, high school sweethearts and Air National Guard veterans, never imagined that the vow “in sickness and in health” would become so literal. Josh, now 33, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2015—just a year after marrying Lauren. Then, three months ago, Lauren, 30, received the same diagnosis.
Despite the odds, they remain unwavering in their support for one another. “In a weird way, it gave us peace of mind,” Josh shares. Lauren adds, “Josh hasn’t let MS stop him from living—and I won’t either.”
Their journey hasn’t been easy. Josh once told Lauren she could leave if life with a chronically ill partner was too much. Sitting together in Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center, facing a daunting future, they sat in silence for 20 minutes. But Lauren never considered leaving. “You’re my best friend,” she says. “We face this together.”
The couple’s love story began in 2008, when Lauren was 14 and Josh was 17. From young love to military service, to raising two children, they’ve faced every challenge side by side. When Josh’s vision failed one sweltering day, it led to an MS diagnosis. Years later, Lauren’s sudden symptoms, which mimicked a stroke, confirmed the same condition.
Doctors were stunned—spouses rarely both develop MS. “It’s a one-in-a-million chance,” says Dr. Robert Bermel of Cleveland Clinic.
With modern treatments and deep mutual love, Josh and Lauren are determined not to let MS define them. “You can still live and enjoy your life,” Josh says. “If our story can be a light in someone’s dark time, then it’s worth sharing.”