Disney’s Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul Opens Up About MS Battle: “You Can Live in Fear or You Can Live in Power — Every Day I Choose the Latter”

After spending most of her career behind the scenes, Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul took center stage at the Race to Erase MS Gala on Friday night.

Bulochnikov-Paul, who serves as executive vp of communications at Disney Entertainment Television, was honored with the Medal of Hope at the event, in recognition of her battle with multiple sclerosis. Upon receiving her award from MS advocate and Center Without Walls founder Nancy Davis, the exec admitted, “When Nancy first asked me to do this, I hesitated — not because I didn’t want to, but because I was afraid. Will people look at me differently? Is this bad for my career? Will my kids worry about me?”

But, she continued, “I knew that being here tonight was important, and I decided I wasn’t going to let MS define me. I’ve spent my entire career in communication, I know how to own a narrative, and I sure as hell was going to own mine.”

Bulochnikov-Paul noted how she’s been introduced to a beautiful community since she was diagnosed, and particularly pointed to her colleagues at Disney for their support, going all the way up to the top. She told the room at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel how Dana Walden, Disney’s president and chief creative officer, “came to my first doctor’s appointment with a notebook and a pen like it was the most important meeting of her day. After the appointment, she asked me if I wanted to take some time off. I said no because what I needed in that moment was normalcy, and what she said next put me down the path that brought me here. She said, ‘MS doesn’t know what’s coming for it.’”

Walden also helped Bulochnikov-Paul find her doctor, as she explained, “The things that filled my days beforehand, none of that was going to change. I was going to keep doing my job and doing it well. And Dana, thank you for never expecting anything less.” The communications vet also gave a shout out to Disney Entertainment Television chairman Debra OConnell, “who is always in my corner at all hours — especially the hours when normal people are asleep,” as well as to her husband and their three sons.

“At the end of the day, none of us know what happens tomorrow,” Bulochnikov-Paul said in closing. “All any of us can do is choose how we live. You can live in fear or you can live in power — every day I choose the latter.”

The event raised over $1.8 million to benefit Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls program, a collaboration of top MS research centers working together to treat and ultimately cure MS. Jesse Palmer served as host of the evening, which also featured performances Ty Dolla $ign, Rachel Platten, Richie Sambora and Dancing With the Stars pros Alan Bersten and Emma Slater, as well as a fashion show from L’AGENCE.