Navy officer faces MS diagnosis head-on
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A local naval officer is fearlessly facing his diagnosis, using his creativity and entrepreneurial skills to fight back and raise awareness.
'I was diagnosed in December of last year,' said Donald Banks III, a chief warrant officer in the Navy.
During an operations screening last year, doctors noticed a problem.
'They're like, something's not right with your eye,' Bank said.
His vision was blurry, but several MRIs and blood tests the doctor discovered something else that was concerning.
'He noticed that I had lesions on my brain, and the eye blindness, there was nerve damage to it,' he said.
That's when the doctor told Banks he has multiple sclerosis.
'It was a bit overwhelming, but my mother has multiple sclerosis,' Banks said.
Banks was a young boy when his mom was diagnosed nearly 40 years ago, and though , there is an increased risk for the children of those with the condition.
As Banks thinks of his own three children, he is also focused on his current naval career of 22 years.
'I enjoy it,' Banks said. 'I love it. It's a passion of mine, and continuing service was my question.'
This food service officer said his superiors are very supportive and have done everything possible to accommodate him while he goes through treatment.
'They want me to get better,' he said. 'They want me to continue my path to this therapy that I'm on. So there's no restrictions to it. If anything, they're more receptive and open arms as I allow them and let them know what my condition is.'
Banks is also on a mission to raise funds to help find a cure. He owns a business creating hats.
'We call officers that were once enlisted and become a commissioned officer Mustangs, so I named the hat line Stang.'
The first hat is filled with symbols of multiple sclerosis. It is adorned with pops of orange, the word 'hope' and a monarch butterfly.
'The butterfly symbolizes hope as well as the dots (on the butterfly's wings), which represents the lesions on the brain and the brain activity,' he said. 'When you get your MRI, it kind of looks like a butterfly.'
The monarch butterfly also represents transformation and hope for those living with Multiple Sclerosis. There is also an even greater purpose behind the hat designed by Banks.
'One-hundred percent of the proceeds with the hat, and these bracelets, are going to get donated at the April 6 walk here in Virginia Beach,' Banks said. 'I have a big check. We're going to take some pictures, and I'll donate all the proceeds from the hat that I created.'
This weekend will be the first Walk MS event Banks has attended.
If you would like to purchase one of Banks's hats to raise awareness, and funds, for Multiple Sclerosis, . If you would like to join Banks, and the WAVY Warriors at Walk MS in Virginia Beach this Sunday afternoon, . If you would like details about Walk MS in Newport News this Saturday morning, .
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Migratory birds develop antibodies to bird flu, officials say
(WAVY) – Wildlife officials are keeping a close eye on the spread of avian influenza after along the North Carolina coast earlier this year — most of them brown pelicans. The outbreak has since been linked to the H5N1 strain of bird flu, a virus that continues to mutate and occasionally jump to other species, raising concern among experts. Miranda Turner, a wildlife health biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, said the area is a prime wintering ground for birds — making it easier for disease to spread. 'When you bring a lot of animals together and you have them traveling from different locations, it's a really good way to transmit diseases,' Turner said. In Hampton Roads, bird flu outbreaks aren't new. Lisa Barlow, president of T recalls treating sick and dying Canada geese during a 2021 outbreak on the Lafayette River. 'We dealt with about three to four dozen Canada geese that came in sick and dying,' Barlow said. 'Only six survived the flu, and even those had to be euthanized due to severe neurological symptoms.' Barlow described birds arriving unable to hold their heads up, their beaks caked in mud. Many died within 24 hours. As the virus continues to affect wildlife, it's not just birds at risk. , including seals, cats and even cattle. Experts say it's mutated at least several times since it was first identified. 'I mean, anything that can do that — it's kind of frightening, but amazing,' Barlow said. Despite the concerning spread, health officials emphasize the risk to humans remains low. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 human cases have been reported nationwide, including one death. Most infections have been among people with repeated exposure to infected animals, such as poultry or dairy farm workers. 'There's really low risk,' Turner said. 'Still, it's a good idea to clean bird feeders regularly and wear gloves or a mask if you handle injured wildlife.' Barlow also urges caution for those who come across sick birds. 'If you do want to help, wear gloves, protect yourself,' she said. 'Common sense goes a long way.' Meanwhile, as migratory birds continue to interact and spread the virus, some are developing natural antibodies, according to Turner. 'They're bouncing back and creating herd immunity,' she said. Last week, the Associated Press reported the in funding meant to support Moderna's development of a bird flu vaccine. The vaccine, which uses mRNA technology similar to the COVID-19 vaccine, had shown early promise in clinical trials. For now, wildlife officials say they expect to see more outbreaks in the years ahead, especially during peak migration periods. 'Because this virus is so common in migratory birds, it is likely that we will continue to see cases here and there every winter,' Turner said. As of right now, there have been no confirmed human cases of H5N1 in Virginia and although the risk remains low for humans, for birds it can be extremely deadly – leading to large die-off events like the ones we saw near Cape Hatteras. 'Unfortunately, this was the first kind of major large scale mortality event… while it looks really bad at that small scale of seeing 300 brown pelicans die – it's not impacting their population as a whole or the species as a whole,' adds Turner. Turner also explains that the surviving pelicans are still there, 'The brown pelicans that did survive that event were still nesting on that island successfully and are doing well. So really, it's a short scale kind of scary looking event, but nothing that raises alarm for biologists in the long term.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Virginia honors Virginia Beach firefighter who lost his life to cancer
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — For years, firefighter Matthew Gallina was exposed to the toxins from fires, both small and large, that put him at risk for a host of rare and deadly cancers. First responders from across the region rushed to the Mayfair Mews Apartment complex in Virginia Beach on April 6, 2012, when a fighter jet slammed into the buildings. The fire was dubbed the Good Friday miracle; no one died. 'Good Friday Miracle': F-18 jet crash into Virginia Beach apartment turns 10 Since Gallina was part of the arson squad, he wasn't assigned to the scene but had to dig through the scene after the incident. 'So if there is an arson, investigation, then my Matt would go out and dig through that scene, and there's a multitude of cancer causing agents,' Gallina's wife Michelle Gallina said. Michelle also said her husband shared space with gear that was contaminated at Mayflower Mews. 'He did not go to the Good Friday plane crash,' Michelle said. 'His, the gear from the Good Friday plane crash was stored at his station, so that's, that's one part of, of the situation was, all of the turnout gear, the equipment that came back to his station for decon, but, you know, there is there's information that, the turnout gear itself, has cancer causing, material.' In June of 2023, Gallina, who had no symptoms, tested for a wide variety of cancers. The test came back positive for stage four esophageal cancer — Gallina died just 14 months later. Funeral services were held at Norfolk's Harbor Park. 10 On Your Side's Regina Mobley asked Michelle what her reaction would be if one of her three children wanted to be a firefighter. 'That's a hard question. And, I don't know,' Michelle said. 'I'm hoping that, you know, the camaraderie of the fire department is is so amazing, and it's, it brings you in. The support that I've gotten from the fire department, from the union, from friends and family, has been overwhelming. On Saturday, Virginia will honor Matt Gallina and 11 other first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the commonwealth. The event takes place at noon at the Richmond International Raceway Complex. If you can't make it to Richmond, the event will be streamed live at the link here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Rep. Don Scott to discuss threats to Medicaid in Norfolk
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia House Speaker Don Scott will join other advocates for reproductive freedom in Norfolk on Friday to speak about the threat to Medicaid. The stop at the Slover Library is the final stop of a statewide tour called 'Protect our Medicaid.' The goal of the tour, according to a release, is to raise awareness of the threat cuts to Medicaid could have on Virginia families. Those with the Protect our Medicaid group said the federal cuts to Medicaid under the Trump Administration's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' could cause over 250,000 Virginians to lose their healthcare, with nearly 47,000 veterans alone in the state covered by Medicaid. The bill includes a proposed $625 million cut in Medicaid — which could cause 7.6 million people nationwide to lose health coverage in less than a decade, according to budget analysis. A release from the group states that Medicaid is the largest source of funding for home care in the United States, with home care for older adults and people with disabilities rising across the country. GOP bill raises fears of major reduction in home care for seniors, disabled The discussion will address how cuts to both Medicaid and Planned Parenthood can impact the Hampton Roads regional economy and how it will harm Virginia families. The Protect our Medicaid tour is expected to be held in the third floor at the Slover Library starting at 11 a.m. Continue to check for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
