Disney executive Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul opened up Friday night about her extraordinary journey of coming to grips with multiple sclerosis as she was honored Friday at the annual Race to Erase MS gala.
Bulochnikov-Paul spoke from the heart as she described the surprise of receiving the diagnosis. As a senior executive at Disney and as the mother of three young sons, she was overwhelmed and concerned her life was about to radically change. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects about 1 million Amerians.
“I decided I wasn’t gonna let MS define me. I’ve spent my entire career in communications. I know how to own a narrative. And I sure as hell was going to own mine,” Bulochnikov-Paul told the crowd at the Fairmont Century Plaza.
Disney’s Dana Walden, Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul and Debra OConnell at the Race to Erase MS gala on June 5 (Frank Micelotta/Disney)
Bulochnikov-Paul, who is executive VP of communications for Disney, cited the support of her colleagues at Disney as key to her perseverance. She singled out her boss, Dana Walden, Disney president and chief creative officer, for going above and beyond, even attending a doctor’s appointment with her early on.
