03-04-2025
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, .
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