David Chaikin - About Me

Motivational speaker David Chaikin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis ( MS ) in 1992 in Minneapolis, MN. In the 15 years prior, David was misdiagnosed by physicians in several U.S. cities as his sales and marketing career in the high tech electronics industry relocated him often since 1980. David’s 25 years of life experiences with MS provide him with a unique story he uses to inspire his audiences whether they are disabled or not.

MS has seen David go from a limping left leg to walking with a cane, then a walker before giving in to a manual wheelchair. He uses a power chair today.

David draws not only on his experiences as a disabled person but also on those of his able life as well. “ I’ve had a chance to do something that not many people do and that’s to live two lives at the same time”.

When he graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1978, David had already served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam era. Upon graduation from college he began what became his first career job in high tech electronics sales as the microchip and the desktop personal computer began to reshape the world.

“ In the Marines and in college I really became aware of the significance of competition in life, especially when a person competes against himself.” In the late ‘70’s David’s competitive spirit helped him complete 2 marathon road races, each time 26.2 miles. He uses those marathons as his credentials for persistence and determination.

Throughout the 1980’s David’s career saw him progress from sales to increasingly more important management and executive positions. All along the way he developed his communication skills not only in one-on-one situations but also very large groups. “ I didn’t realize it then, but these speaking occasions actually turned out to be auditions for my purpose as a motivational speaker,” David says.

It was during this period that David began suffering from what he later discovered are the major symptoms categories of MS: Altered body sensations, blurred vision, muscle weakness, and extreme fatigue. He could no longer run or workout and he struggled to carry his luggage and briefcase through airports when he traveled on business. “ Because these symptoms were intermittent and I was relocating to different cities, I never was able to build a relationship with a physician who could connect the dots to accurately diagnose me”. The doctors David did see convinced him that his symptoms were caused by the stress of his jobs and considerable traveling.

Even David’s wife and step-children doubted his attacks and his intermittent symptoms. They also thought he was making things up to draw attention to himself. David’s marriage became strained.

1992 saw David make his final relocation to Minneapolis, MN. He didn’t know it then, but at that time Minnesota had the largest per capita population of people with MS of any state in the union. By this time David’s symptoms weren’t intermittent any longer. Fatigue plagued him constantly and his left leg became heavy and hard to bend. He began walking with a very noticeable limp he couldn’t explain. He began having “ dizzy spells “ and coworkers even accused David of “ drinking his lunch “. Despite these increasing physical limitations David continued to work full-time, although traveling on business, an important element of his job, became extremely difficult.

It was at this time David experienced something previously unknown to him – a doctor who would listen! “ I was amazed – a doctor who took time to listen to my years of symptoms without prejudging or making me think I was crazy.” After several physical exams, this new physician sent David to a neurologist. Then after 3 MRIs and a spinal tap David was diagnosed with “a demyelinating condition” of the central nervous system in his brain. This meant multiple sclerosis.

Now after almost 15 years of symptoms, thousands of frequent flyer miles, and homes in several different cities David finally knew there was really something wrong with him! But what was multiple sclerosis? Was it fatal? Was there a known course this illness would follow? Would there be different symptoms he hadn’t experienced yet? David was filled with questions but didn’t know where to begin looking for answers. He was grappling with these questions and more when a nurse in the neurologist’s office told him about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

“ The internet didn’t exist back in ’92 so I actually went to the office of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.” This place was the treasure trove of MS information about MS. But there as a dark side – this is where David learned there not only was no cure for MS but also researchers could not identify it’s cause. He learned that his physical condition might progressively deteriorate until he become confined to a wheelchair or even a nursing home.

In the years after his diagnosis, David moved through the stages of denial and guilt as he tried to reach acceptance while he continued to work full – time. There were many sacrifices for David and his family to make. The strain of living with MS finally caused David’s marriage to dissolve. These were dark times for David. He not only experienced despair, he faced it alone.

At this same time, from the MS Society’s mailing list, David had been receiving requests for volunteers of all kids. David applied and was accepted as a volunteer speaker to middle school children in support of the Read-A-Thon program. He did this for 2 years, applying his job related speaking experiences to a new use. It was this type of volunteer speaking that first gave David a sense of his purpose.

Back in the mid-90’s David had joined the Toastmasters International public speaking organization to further develop his skills. “ I just had a feeling that I’d need this type of skill somewhere down the road.” His coworkers helped David attend speaker’s meetings and he became a regular participant. David’s competitive spirit began to return as he won 1st Place trophies in Area speaker’s contests.

The year 2000 found David relying on a power wheelchair every day, at work and at home. While beginning to live “ dependently independent “ as he came to full acceptance of his life with MS..He had also become active as a peer visitor to people with MS who were nursing home patients. “ I came to learn how fortunate I was after meeting so many people with MS who were younger than me and had worse symptoms.”

In 2002, to test his own limits and prove to himself that “ I may have MS but it doesn’t have me.” David went against all his caregivers’ advice and made a tandem skydive from 13,500 feet. His jump, which was filmed by the skydiving school, was attended by a feature writer from the St. Paul Pioneer Press. After the story and pictures were published, David was asked to appear on a local Minneapolis CBS affiliate talk radio program. “All of a sudden I had an audience that I could not only raise awareness about MS but also show what disabled people are capable of.”s

David’s accomplishments and speaking ability caught the attention of the Minnesota Chapter of the National MS Society and by 2004 had joined it’s speakers bureau. In 2004, he parachuted for the 2nd time and featured this time in the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper. This was a time of epiphany for David as he came to believe he had found a purpose in his life. “ I felt that my life experiences struggling with MS and all the competitive things I was still doing had meaning and value for all people, disabled and able alike”.

David was selected to be a Campaign Ambassador for Community Health Charities Minnesota in the fall of 2004. He spoke as a workplace-giving fundraiser. While crafting his speeches he developed his story of the Tinman as his metaphor for life with MS. “Over the years I had read many stories of life with MS and the Tinman theme is very unique.” David felt that his metal wheelchair that surrounded him was just like the tin metal that made the Tinman. He believed that volunteering turned him into a “ good deed doer.” Volunteering gave David back his heart.

Now David was convinced his purpose is to speak to audiences using his Tinman story to inspire audiences of all ages and abilities. In addition to working 40+ hours per week, David became even more active as an MS Society volunteer. He not only did peer visiting, he worked to raise awareness for MS, fund raise, and do public out reach and education.

In 2005, David was recognized by nationally known motivational speaker, Fern Silver. She gave David her Anthropomaximolgist Award – A person who makes those around him better.

In 2006 David’s volunteer efforts earned him recognition from careers and the disabled Magazine after his coworkers at Arrow Electronics nominated him as Employee of the Year.

David continued to work full-time and volunteer even though MS continued to place more limitations on him. Early in 2007 David was finally forced to leave his career at Arrow Electronics and accept long term disability.

Because of his volunteer work and knowledge of the Minnesota MS community David was elected to the board of trustees at the MN Chapter of the National MS Society.

As a longtime volunteer for the MN Chapter, in 2008 David was honored by NBC affiliate KARE – 11 TV as an Eleven Who Care award winner. Eleven Who Care - which recognizes the contributions of grassroots volunteers and promotes the spirit of volunteerism – celebrated it’s 25th anniversary with a 90 minute live telecast honoring the 2008 winners and past recipients. David received a $1,100 donation which he directed to the MN Chapter Scholarship Program.

The new year of 2009 finds MS continuing to place limits on David as his tinman’s journey continues along the road. The MS community is David’s metaphor for the Emerald City. Please join David on his journey.