It was the early spring of 2005 when both joy and terror struck Sue Spaulding's heart. Sue, a French horn teacher and principal horn player for the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra, had received word that she and her husband, Anthony DeQuattro, were approved to receive the baby Korean boy they were hoping to adopt when, just weeks after that happy news, Sue was told by doctors that she had multiple sclerosis (MS)."I had had a few episodes of falling and of losing feeling on my right side," Sue explains, "and I played several concerts without feeling the horn bell on my right hand."

"I had had a few episodes of falling and of losing feeling on my right side," Sue explains, "and I played several concerts without feeling the horn bell on my right hand."While devastated by the diagnosis, Sue says, "I was very lucky to fall into the hands of sensitive and informed doctors, [and] luckily for me, my symptoms were mostly (and have remained so far) sensory rather than motor or operational."

While devastated by the diagnosis, Sue says, "I was very lucky to fall into the hands of sensitive and informed doctors, [and] luckily for me, my symptoms were mostly (and have remained so far) sensory rather than motor or operational."With the frightening prospect of this as-yet incurable disease haunting her thoughts, Sue received a blessing to derail any feelings of self-pity when, on July 7, "we got 'the call,'" that their baby son-Frank Min Sung DeQuattro-would be arriving at Boston's Logan International Airport the following day.

With the frightening prospect of this as-yet incurable disease haunting her thoughts, Sue received a blessing to derail any feelings of self-pity when, on July 7, "we got 'the call,'" that their baby son-Frank Min Sung DeQuattro-would be arriving at Boston's Logan International Airport the following day."This call came about six weeks earlier than we had been told, so what a wonderful surprise for us," Sue says.

"This call came about six weeks earlier than we had been told, so what a wonderful surprise for us," Sue says.A week later Sue began her treatment plan to tackle MS, and she soon learned "I could not only live with MS, but go on with my life in any way I chose."

A week later Sue began her treatment plan to tackle MS, and she soon learned "I could not only live with MS, but go on with my life in any way I chose."Sue chose to "keep going and doing," and that includes her continued concert playing, teaching her students at the Hartt School of Music (her alma mater) to master the French horn, and to begin her new life as a mom to a loving little boy.

Sue chose to "keep going and doing," and that includes her continued concert playing, teaching her students at the Hartt School of Music (her alma mater) to master the French horn, and to begin her new life as a mom to a loving little boy. Of dealing with MS, Sue says, "It's not a battle, but a challenge" since the disease is not presently debilitating-that prospect is somewhere in the future. But then "everyone is different," Sue points out.

Of dealing with MS, Sue says, "It's not a battle, but a challenge" since the disease is not presently debilitating-that prospect is somewhere in the future. But then "everyone is different," Sue points out. While some people, with treatment, can live active lives for years, Sue admits others suffer debilitation more quickly.

While some people, with treatment, can live active lives for years, Sue admits others suffer debilitation more quickly.Sue keeps her chin up, however, and forges ahead.

Sue keeps her chin up, however, and forges ahead. "There's nothing I can't do if I really want to do it," she explains. "I'm more careful and thoughtful about what I do and what's good for me to do," she says of managing her daily schedule. "I have Frank, my students, and my husband and life and I don't want to compromise any of those."

"There's nothing I can't do if I really want to do it," she explains. "I'm more careful and thoughtful about what I do and what's good for me to do," she says of managing her daily schedule. "I have Frank, my students, and my husband and life and I don't want to compromise any of those."To coordinate the upcoming "extravaganza" of 32 French horn players, Sue composed a letter to friends and musical colleagues. In it she wrote: "My hope is to have as many professional horn players as possible participating [and] to raise $4,000 for the National MS Society to help fund further research."

To coordinate the upcoming "extravaganza" of 32 French horn players, Sue composed a letter to friends and musical colleagues. In it she wrote: "My hope is to have as many professional horn players as possible participating [and] to raise $4,000 for the National MS Society to help fund further research."Before that letter went out, Sue had already secured St. John's Episcopal Church to supply the venue and a committee to coordinate advertising, publicity, and the after-concert refreshments.

Before that letter went out, Sue had already secured St. John's Episcopal Church to supply the venue and a committee to coordinate advertising, publicity, and the after-concert refreshments.Her pitch was heard and more than 30 French horn players will assemble to dazzle listeners on Sept. 12.

Her pitch was heard and more than 30 French horn players will assemble to dazzle listeners on Sept. 12. "This is the largest event I have ever organized," Sue notes. "And I'm looking forward to amazing and fun music-making and friendship. I want to do this fundraiser to give back, and I hope to raise a lot of money and to tell my story to others."

"This is the largest event I have ever organized," Sue notes. "And I'm looking forward to amazing and fun music-making and friendship. I want to do this fundraiser to give back, and I hope to raise a lot of money and to tell my story to others."

To nominate a Person of the Week contact Jason Marchi at j.marchi@shorepublishing.com or 203-245-1877 x6166The Connecticut French Horn Orchestra will perform on

The Connecticut French Horn Orchestra will perform on

Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 3 Trumbull Place, North Haven. Tickets are $20 and available beginning

Aug. 15 at the church, at the door, or by calling 239-0156 or

emailing stjohnsmsbenefit@yahoo.com.