Never Stop. Never Quit. How One Veteran Found His Stride Again with PoNS®
Honoring Veterans Day
On Veterans Day, we honor the men and women who’ve served our country—and the incredible strength they continue to show long after their service.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that 55,000–70,000 Veterans live with MS in the United States.1 Among them is Kevin Byrne, a retired Army veteran, father, and man living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Kevin embodies the spirit of resilience—his personal motto, “Never Stop. Never Quit.”, has carried him through life’s toughest battles.
“Never Stop, Never Quit”
Before his diagnosis, Kevin was serving as an Army Aviation officer, he was flying AH-64 attack helicopters and commanding Delta Troop, 1/6 Cavalry (“Darkhorse”) in Korea in 1999. He led soldiers, managed maintenance, and thrived on the high stakes demands of military service. But later that year, subtle symptoms began—numbness and tingling, blurred vision—that hinted something wasn’t right.
A visit to the flight surgeon led to a neurologist and, eventually, an MRI. On October 6, 1999, Kevin received a report with the words “possible multiple sclerosis.” Two weeks later, the diagnosis was confirmed at Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii. Even then, Kevin refused to step away from his mission—he remained overseas, grounded from flying but still in command for nine months, determined to “Never Stop… Never Quit.”
Real Results: Getting Back in Step with Life with PoNS
Since his diagnosis, Kevin has turned his fight into advocacy—volunteering with the National MS Society, raising over a million dollars for MS treatment research, and embracing PoNS Therapy® to help reclaim his walking ability and sense of purpose. Kevin recently shared, “[PoNS] improved my gait so much that I participated in this year’s Walk MS event in Portland, Oregon.”
Through consistent adherence to PoNS Therapy and a healthy serving of determination, Kevin began to see remarkable progress. With each session, his steps grew steadier. His confidence returned. Daily tasks that once felt uncertain—walking across the room, playing with his daughter, or simply standing without support—became possible again.
Read more about Kevin’s treatment here.
In the recent PoNSTEP Study, participants who maintained a strong adherence to their therapy (meaning that they consistently followed their 14-week therapy plan) had a statistically significant average improvement in their Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). This improvement was maintained for at least 6 months after treatment completion2:
- 50% of participants who maintained 85-100% adherence to PoNS Therapy saw an improvement of nearly 7 points in DGI scores2
- 74% of those who maintained 70% adherence gained at least a 5-point improvement in DGI scores from baseline to end of treatment2
Staying Persistent with PoNS (Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator)
PoNS works by gently stimulating the nerves on the surface of the tongue to activate cranial nerves and induce neuroplasticity. When combined with physical rehabilitation exercises, this treatment is known as PoNS Therapy.
Kevin approached PoNS Therapy with the same discipline that defined his years of service—and the results speak for themselves. By committing to the 14-week program, patients like Kevin can repair impaired neural pathways and reclaim their walking ability. In fact…
Read Rouge’s moving article, A Daughter’s Perspective: How One Veteran Is Reclaiming Mobility Through PoNS Therapy, about her relationship with her father and his road to recovery.
If you or a loved one are a Veteran living with MS, visit your local VA to ask about PoNS Therapy and learn how it can support your recovery journey.
Fighting for Veterans with MS
For Veterans living with MS, access to innovative therapies can make all the difference. PoNS is now available by prescription to Veterans through Lovell Government Services, helping to ensure that those who’ve served have access to the care they deserve.
On Veterans Day, we salute all who have served—and those who continue to serve through their courage, persistence, and refusal to quit.
Are you ready to Get Back In Step With Life?
Individual results and experiences may vary. Talk to your doctor to see if PoNS is right for you.
References
- Veterans With Multiple Sclerosis. National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/resources/get-support/find-support-groups-and-programs/veterans-with-ms - Backus D, Langston C, Yadav VJ, et al. Long-term efficacy of translingual neurostimulation on gait deficit in MS: PoNSTEP study.CMSC Conference, Phoenix, AZ; May 2025. [Abstract]