Nicholas J. Stevens has never been easy to define—and that’s exactly the point.
He’ll be turning 49 on Mr. T’s birthday, and by the time he’s 60, he will have lived with Multiple Sclerosis for half of his life. That reality could have narrowed his world.
Instead, it expanded it.
Nicholas has always been drawn to people—especially those navigating challenges of their own. Over the years, he has worked in teen shelters, overnight shelters, and served as the first (and at the time only) full-time male staff member at a women’s shelter. He’s created art alongside adults with developmental disabilities, coached stand-up comedy to a young woman with Down syndrome, and helped train future healthcare professionals as a standardized patient.
Today, he continues that work in a different way—as both a lived-experience patient and therapist, but always someone committed to helping others find their way through the unpredictable terrain of Multiple Sclerosis.
A Life That Doesn’t Fit in a Box
Before—and after—his diagnosis, Nicholas has lived a life that refuses to stay in one lane.
He has:
- Hosted a game show and the pilot of a talk show
- Served on Central Staff for the Mentor Program at the University of Pittsburgh
- Founded and ran an award-winning baking business
- Completed an Olympic-distance triathlon
- Trained in Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
- Played the title role in an independent film (yes… both Jesus and Dracula)
- Written multiple books, including Ministry of Love, These Got Me Punched, and Tributary Of Madness
- Performed stand-up comedy and improvisational theatre
- Managed food service operations ranging from coffee shops to multi-unit restaurant groups with over 150 employees
- Been a promotional model… and a nude model for an art class
- Painted faces at fairs, refereed youth soccer, and even shared a living space with a movie star
And somewhere along the way, he also:
- Rode in the MS150 twice—before ever being diagnosed
- Endured 18 months of chemotherapy
- Spoke to physical therapy students about loss, identity, and resilience
- Was hired to tell jokes at weddings, parties… and even a premium car dealership
(Many of these milestones happened after his MS diagnosis—not in spite of it, but alongside it.)
Why Laughing Through MS Exists
Nicholas isn’t here to pretend everything is easy.
He’s here because it’s not.
Multiple Sclerosis brings uncertainty, frustration, loss—and a hundred questions no one seems to answer clearly. What Nicholas offers isn’t clinical advice or polished perfection.
He offers perspective. Honesty. Humor when it’s needed most.
And maybe most importantly, he offers proof that a meaningful, creative, connected life doesn’t end with a diagnosis—it just changes shape.
What’s Next
Nicholas is taking the next step—building something that helps others navigate their own journey with MS.
Through Laughing Through MS, he’s creating:
- A place to find real-world resources
- A voice that understands what you’re going through
- A community rooted in empathy, humor, and resilience
Because sometimes the best way forward isn’t just to endure…
It’s to accept, adapt, and advance.