For the Leafs' TJ Brodie and Wife Amber, Thursday's A&W Fundraiser Is Personal

Amber Brodie changed her lifestyle to stay ahead of multiple sclerosis. Now, she and Maple Leafs D-man TJ Brodie partnered with A&W's Burgers to Beat MS campaign.

As one of more than 90,000 Canadians living with multiple sclerosis (MS), Amber Brodie's daily routine bears an uncanny resemblance to that of her husband, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman TJ Brodie.

"It's been an inspiration to me," said TJ of Amber's determination. "She could have just accepted it, sat back and waited for another symptom to come up. Instead, she educated herself on it. She changed her diet, started working out, prioritized her sleep — did all these lifestyle changes to give her the best chance to be the best version of herself."

In 2016, while TJ was a member of the Calgary Flames, Amber was diagnosed with MS after experiencing issues with her vision and losing feeling below her waist. The pair, who have known each other since they were children in Ontario, got engaged shortly afterward. They married in 2017. 

Now, with five-year-old Severn and two-year-old Church as part of their family, the couple is taking Amber's diagnosis public to help raise awareness about MS and much-needed funds to continue research into this complex and unpredictable neurological disease. 

On Thursday, the Brodies are partnering with A&W's Burgers to Beat MS campaign. Two dollars from every Teen Burger sold goes to MS Canada to directly and positively impact Canadians living with MS. 

While the Toronto market is renowned for its obsessive scrutiny of the Maple Leafs, the Brodies live a low-key life, to the point where TJ says he doesn't get recognized very often in public. 

"It'd probably help if I had teeth," said the 33-year-old wryly. "That's a dead giveaway, as soon as I open my mouth. But it hasn't been too bad."

The Brodies' decision to become spokespeople for Burgers to Beat MS speaks volumes about their commitment to the cause. Amber admits she needed some time to become comfortable with the idea of stepping into the spotlight.

"After my diagnosis — it came as a shock, so it definitely took a little while to accept and set in and cope," she said. "Now, I feel like we're finally at a good position to share our story and help raise more awareness and money for MS."

The increased visibility has brought Amber a sense of connection to others who have also been touched by the condition.

"Part of going public with my story, which has been cool, is people coming up and just saying how they have been affected personally by the disease, whether it's themselves or somebody that they know," she said.

"It helps them to talk about it, but it also helps me. Even though I've accepted it as a part of my life, it's still that feeling that someone understands. That's kind of nice."

The couple has partnered with MS Canada in the past — starting with a function in Calgary in 2016 and most recently with a charity pickleball tournament for the last two summers. 

Burgers to Beat MS is MS Canada's largest corporate fundraiser. Now in its 15th year, the campaign has raised $19 million. Thursday's target is to raise an additional $2 million through burger sales and donations at BurgersToBeatMS.ca.

Canada has one of the highest MS rates in the world, and Amber's case is not atypical. More than 60 percent of people who are diagnosed with MS are between the ages of 20 and 49, and 75 percent of Canadians living with MS are women, according to MS Canada.

There is no cure, but tremendous progress has been made on treatment therapies in recent years. Nineteen different disease-modifying therapies are now approved for MS patients, up from just three back in 2008.

"When I was first diagnosed, we definitely leaned on MS Canada a lot for any type of information and support," Amber said. "I think it's campaigns like this that make that type of research and those type of treatments more and more available. It has definitely changed a lot even since I've been diagnosed."

MS takes different forms. Amber has relapse-remitting MS (RRMS), which is generally characterized by symptom-free periods interspersed with flare-ups or relapses when symptoms appear.

"It comes and goes," said TJ. "It can be 10 years or can be a year between symptoms. You never really know why or when it's going to happen."

Added Amber: "Also, when you get diagnosed, you're not really sure initially what you are dealing with."

"I was on medication shortly after I was diagnosed, but we knew we wanted to start a family. Our doctor suggested to go off of it prior to having children.

"Since having kids, I have, like TJ said, just made a lot of lifestyle changes, which has so far worked for me and the season that I'm in."

That means following an anti-inflammatory diet and embracing cold therapies, such as cryotherapy and cold tubs, which help reduce inflammation in the body.

Daily exercise is also non-negotiable.

"Exercise is just basically getting movement in," Amber said. "Honestly, it's a key mental component for me as well. Instead of looking at it as 'I have to work out,' it's 'I can work out and I will. And I can move my body today so I will.' "

Amber's diagnosis also factored into the Brodies' decision to return to Toronto, where TJ signed a four-year contract as a UFA in October 2020.

"Toronto has just as good of resources as Calgary," said TJ Brodie. "So it was just a matter of switching everything over. And then, one of the reasons why we decided to come here is being closer to family so there's that extra help when I'm on the road. If she needs a hand or something like that, there's a support system here. So far, it's been great."

It's never easy watching a loved one deal with health challenges.

"She doesn't tell me a lot unless it is a bad day or unless it's been a couple of bad days in a row. Then, she'll sort of let me know what's going on," TJ said. "You just try to be there, physically, emotionally. Whatever you can do to make life easier. 

"Obviously, stress is a huge influence on MS. I probably end up giving her more stress sometimes," he chuckled. "But, you know, I try to limit it as much as I can."

FaceTime is invaluable during road trips. When TJ's at home, he prioritizes spending as much time as he can with Amber and the kids — and has absorbed a new perspective on both life and hockey.

"Going through this has taught me a lot on and off the ice," he said. "I think it's almost helped my game to a certain point where you realize that hockey is not everything.

"There's lots of life beyond hockey, and if you make a mistake out there, you just move on and forget about it. Try your best to do better the next time and don't let it affect you the next shift that you go out. I think it has actually helped my performance in that aspect, having that mindset."