BEYOND THE LINES w/Demit Omphroy

Demit Omphroy is a testament to the artistry of overcoming adversity. From the soccer field to the canvas, his journey is a vivid portrayal of resilience, reinvention, and self-expression, all while navigating life with multiple sclerosis. Through vibrant art and an inspiring outlook, Demit continues to shape conversations about strength, identity, and creativity.

ALLIÉ: At 17, you were on the cusp of signing with Sporting Lisbon when vision issues led to a diagnosis of optic neuritis, an early indicator of MS. This unexpected health challenge disrupted your promising soccer career. Can you share how you coped with this setback and what motivated you to continue pursuing professional soccer despite the uncertainties? 

DEMIT: Yeah, I mean, I feel like when I was 16 going on 17, it was sort of that year where you decide—are you going to go to college, or are you going to pursue the high school-to-professional route? In my mind, I was like, "I'm going to be a pro soccer player. I'm not going to college. I'm putting everything into soccer.” That was all I really knew at the time. I identified so heavily as an athlete, and I put all my eggs in the basket of being a pro athlete. When I got diagnosed with optic neuritis, it was interesting because, at the time, I didn’t know I had optic neuritis. When I was in Portugal, I experienced this vision fluttering where I woke up one morning and felt really foggy in my right eye. I thought it was just tiredness. But on the soccer pitch, I realized something was seriously wrong—I couldn’t see out of my eye.

When I saw the doctors in Portugal a day or two later, their initial reaction was, "If this is hereditary, you’re going to go blind." And so it wasn’t initially this feeling of, “Oh, you have optic neuritis; it’s common.” It was more of, “We don’t know what’s wrong with you, and we have to figure out whether or not you’re going to even have your vision anymore.”

That was such a blow for me at the time because I had really decided that I wasn’t going to do school anymore. I was going to be an athlete; I was going to be a pro soccer player. In my mind, being a pro soccer player meant leaving home and going to Europe to actually pursue the dream. That’s the big leagues, you know? That’s where you really make it.

When I had that initial diagnosis of them not knowing what was going on, I was really scared. I felt like everything I had worked for was ending, and I had no control over it. I had to move back home, which was another tough blow. I had set out to live in Portugal, and after a year, I was just starting to get comfortable. Then everything I had planned for was disrupted.

Getting the diagnosis of optic neuritis was maybe a little reassuring because I knew I wasn’t going to go blind, but it also came with the realization that I had this condition. Every time I did any physical exertion and my body temperature rose, my vision would flutter again. It became really foggy, and I couldn’t see clearly.

Moving back home and coping with this was difficult because it was always a reminder that I couldn’t run too hard, couldn’t push myself to full exertion, which is required to be a pro athlete. I couldn’t even jog without triggering symptoms. My body felt fine; my legs felt fine. Everything felt fine—but my eye wouldn’t cooperate.

So, going back to how I dealt with this diagnosis and overcame it—it actually took a lot of time to accept what was happening and understand that the path I had in my head wasn’t necessarily the exact way I was going to achieve my dream of being a professional soccer player.

It gave me more motivation to regroup and think about why this was happening and how I could at least keep the dream alive. For me, it became about getting healthy and establishing a regiment. At 18, I didn’t know I had MS yet—I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 21. So at 18, it was this unknown thing I was dealing with. But the diagnosis ended contract talks and any immediate professional career opportunities, which meant that if I wanted to keep my dream alive, I had to go back to college.

In hindsight, that route served me better. It turned out to be a great experience because it allowed me to get an education, learn about myself, and improve as a soccer player. At the time, though, it was tough. I just kept thinking, “I can’t let this diagnosis take away my dream.”

I held onto that mindset through my four years of college. By my senior year, when I turned 21, I got the diagnosis of MS. I remember thinking, “This is the thing that took away that contract when I was 17. There’s no way I’m going to let this define how the rest of my life goes. I’m not going to let this disease take away my dream.”

​DEMIT: (continued) I decided I would do whatever it took. Whether it was training until my legs gave out or doing everything possible to compete—I was determined. That meant getting on treatment, managing my stress levels, taking care of my body, and being very regimented. I prepared myself to be in the best possible condition to achieve my goals.

It’s easy to talk about it now, but going through it was really hard. At 16, 17, and again at 21, those were tough moments. I felt like there was this ticking clock on how long I’d be able to enjoy an active lifestyle. MS comes with this narrative that as you get older, you lose mobility and physical ability. That narrative didn’t sit well with me.

I used that as fuel to keep going. I’m so grateful I had that mentality because, despite the difficulty, it allowed me to have some of the best years of my life playing professionally. I became the first player in Major League Soccer with MS, which was an interesting and cool accomplishment.

It wasn’t necessarily something I set out to achieve. I just wanted to prove to myself that I could accomplish my dream of being a professional soccer player. I’m really grateful for that.

ALLIÉ: That’s incredible. I didn’t know you were the first—it’s amazing. Now, Let’s fast forward a little now. After stepping away from professional soccer, you ventured into the art world, developing a style often compared to Picasso and Matisse. What inspired this transition? How did your experiences as an athlete influence your artistic expression?

DEMIT: Yeah, the transition to art—it’s been quite a journey. I’ll preface this by saying I tend to go in-depth, so bear with me! When I retired from professional soccer, there was a significant gap before I became a full-time artist. Initially, I spent time behind the camera, working on photography and videography. Being behind the camera became another way for me to express myself.

On the soccer field, I always felt like I was telling a story through my creativity. That storytelling mindset carried over into photography and videography. I worked on creating stories and expressing myself in ways that felt true to me.

Storytelling helped me feel understood, especially as someone living with a disease that isn’t always visible. MS can feel isolating at times because people can’t always see what you’re dealing with—it’s more internal and mental. Photography and videography allowed me to communicate my experiences and connect with others on a deeper level.

Around 2020, I had a realization about what I felt was my true form of expression. Painting had always been a part of my life—my mom was an artist, and my dad was a soccer player, so I’ve always been a mix of both worlds. But up until then, I hadn’t pursued painting seriously.

Stepping into painting full-time was really scary. It felt like a leap of faith. I’d been working as a photographer and videographer, staying connected to sports and the soccer world, but there was always this itch to share my experiences through painting.

During the pandemic, everything turned upside down, and I thought, “If there’s ever a time to pursue what I truly love, it’s now.” I started small—working in a little studio, sketching in a notepad with crayons. I had just gone through a breakup with my girlfriend of nine years, and I was feeling low. Painting became my outlet to process everything I was going through.

At first, it was just for me—therapy through art. But as I kept creating, my friends started noticing. They told me my work was cool and asked if I’d ever thought about selling it. I didn’t believe them at first. The idea of selling my art felt so far-fetched. Eventually, I realized that by creating from my heart and focusing on my passion, opportunities started coming my way. Within months, I was collaborating with the Picasso family and working on pieces for major companies.

That leap of faith was one of the toughest decisions I’ve made, but also one of the most rewarding. Whether you’re transitioning careers, running a race, or making a health decision, sometimes you have to follow your heart and trust the process, even when it’s scary.

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​ALLIÉ: That leap of faith—it’s so true. You can’t just tiptoe into it; you have to be all in. Let’s talk about your art. Your artwork is vibrant and playful, exploring themes of life, death, and family. How has living with MS influenced the themes and emotions you convey in your art?

DEMIT: That’s a great question. Honestly, MS hasn’t fully made its way into my artwork yet. For a long time, I kept MS in the back of my mind, almost in denial of it.

But over the past year, I’ve started to understand how critical health is to my creative process. MS has taught me that I can’t burn the candle at both ends and still expect to produce meaningful work. Creating art requires clarity of mind and a level of vulnerability that’s hard to access if I’m not taking care of myself.

Taking care of my health—both physically and mentally—has become essential to my art. I’ve learned that if I don’t prioritize my well-being, I can’t fully express myself or create work I’m proud of.

I’ve also realized that my relationship with MS is evolving. Hearing stories from others who live with MS has been comforting and has reminded me that I’m not alone. This sense of connection inspires me to take care of myself so I can keep creating and sharing my story.

In many ways, managing MS feels similar to being an athlete. As an athlete, you train, eat right, and prepare your body to perform. With MS, I’ve had to develop a similar regiment, focusing on things like treatment, stress management, and healthy habits.

This past year, I made the decision to start drug therapy for MS. It was a proactive step to give myself the best chance at living a long and symptom-free life. I realized that taking care of my health is not just about me—it’s about being there for my family, friends, and the people who believe in my art.

For me, art is about expression—sharing pieces of myself with others. And as I’ve gotten better at taking care of my health, I’ve noticed that my art has become more intentional and meaningful. It’s a process of growth, and I’m learning to appreciate that journey.

ALLIÉ: That’s such an important realization, and it’s clear that health and creativity are deeply intertwined for you. When you share your story about MS, how do you hope it impacts public perceptions of the disease? What message do you want to convey to others facing similar challenges?

DEMIT: I think the main message I want to share is about mentality. It’s not always easy to change your mindset, especially when you’re dealing with something as challenging as MS. But for me, the biggest takeaway has been understanding that there’s more than one way to achieve your goals.

When I was younger, I thought there was only one path to becoming a pro soccer player. When that path didn’t work out, I thought the dream was over. What I didn’t realize was that life had other plans for me, and I could still achieve my dream in a different way.

DEMIT: (continued) I’ve spoken to a lot of MS patients—some my age, some twice my age, and some even older. Everyone’s journey is different, but the common thread is that we all have to find our own path forward.

For some, that path might look like completing an 8K, even if it’s just walking to the mailbox or going down the street. It’s about redefining success on your own terms and finding ways to accomplish what matters to you.

The most important thing I’ve learned is that we write the script of our lives. Our circumstances don’t get to decide whether we’re happy or fulfilled—we do.

ALLIÉ: That’s such a powerful message. Thank you for sharing that.

DEMIT: Absolutely. It’s something I wish I could have told my younger self—to keep finding the path, no matter how slow the progress might feel. There’s always a way forward.

I’ve also learned to embrace being a student of life. Even as I get older, I’m constantly learning—about myself, about others, and about the world around me. That curiosity has been such a valuable part of my journey.

For me, it all comes back to self-love and resilience. Learning to love myself and take care of my mind and body has been the foundation for everything—whether it’s my career, my art, or my journey with MS. ∎

Follow Demit on Instagram:
@demit 
Learn more of his story online:
​www.demitomphroy.com