On November 24, 2004, the night before Thanksgiving, I was given
some news that I have seen a lot of people be distraught over. I’ve seen some
go into depression over it. I’ve seen others be angry over it. I’ve seen some
give up entirely. It has been 18 years since I was diagnosed with Multiple
Sclerosis. The National MS Society describes MS like this…
“MS is a disease that impacts the brain, spinal cord and optic
nerves, which make up the central nervous system and controls everything we do.
The exact cause of MS is unknown, but we do know that something triggers the
immune system to attack the central nervous system. The resulting damage to
myelin, the protective layer insulating the wire-like nerve fibers (axons),
disrupts signals to and from the brain. This interruption of communication
signals cause unpredictable symptoms such as numbness, tingling, mood changes,
memory problems, pain, fatigue, blindness and/or paralysis. Everyone’s
experience with MS is different and these losses may be temporary or long
lasting.”
The first 14 years of my diagnosis, I rarely went past 6 months not having a relapse (or flare up). I’ve had to be fed. I’ve talked with a stutter. I’ve been hospitalized hundreds of times. I’ve had to use a cane, walker or a wheelchair, many times. I’ve even gone blind temporarily, which is called optic neuritis. Just last week, it was estimated that I have received AT LEAST 90,000 mg of IV steroids, due to MS. That doesn’t count any steroids that I would have had for any other infections. Because of that, my bones have deteriorated and by the time I was 38, I had two back surgeries, and all of my teeth removed.
I am grateful to have experienced all those
setbacks. Otherwise, how would I even think to be thankful for the things that
can truly be taken for granted. Like, being able to feed yourself. Being able
to close your eyes and stand up at the same time. To walk through the grocery
store instead of using a wheelchair. To park farther away from the store. To
see, hear, taste, and speak without a
stutter.
When you’ve been confined to a wheelchair or a bed,
or you’ve had to use a cane or a walker, you suddenly realize that you should
be thankful for that extra mile you are able to walk. When you lose your vision
for a time, you suddenly are thankful to be able to see that eyeroll. When you
need to have someone feed you, you suddenly appreciate the task of making your
own food and feeding it to yourself.
Don’t do like I did and wait until you’ve lost it to
be thankful for it. Be thankful for every good and bad thing that happens in
your life. Grow from the pain and spread the good to others.
I know everyone has experienced a broken cell phone charger at some point. You
know the one that stops charging as soon as you set your phone down?
Can you depend on that charger every single time you plug it in?
If it still gets a connection, it’s possible that it’ll charge your device. It won’t work if it’s severed.
Here's the thing with this analogy, though. You can go buy a new cord at the store. I can’t.
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| STAY CONNECTED! |
Happy MSiversary to me!
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