March 5 to 11 is MS Awareness Week. I thank Stefanie for the reminder.
Last year one of my best friends was diagnosed with MS – and naturally the diangnosis came at the same moment that her husband lost his job, and she also was searching desperately for work herself. They have two kids. Since the diagnosis – some unbelievable transformations have occurred. She got a job that she had basically been campaigning for for YEARS. A job that is perfect for her. One she waited for, one she paid her dues for. Her husband found a new job which suited him much better. He’s much happier. And the whole family (not to mention us – her group of friends) adjusted to this new reality – of Multiple Sclerosis. When the news broke – I remember having tearful conversations with some of my other friends about it – what did it mean??? It was terrifying. Just the name of it, too: Multiple Sclerosis – has such scary implications. But our friend with the diagnosis led the way. She handled herself with such calmness and acceptance (not always – she’s human, after all!) – but in general – that she prepared the ground for us to be okay with it. We watch her give herself injections – the first time I saw it I felt nervous … but now it’s like, “Oh, whatever. Injection. There’s her ass. Okay, whatever … pass the wine.” I still have my moments of fear, fear of the future, being pissed (I recently sent her an email damning her “new lesion” to hell and back.) – but seriously: she has led the way, for all of us, in how to accept this new reality, and to be able to talk about it, ask questions, be aware. I am so in admiration of how she has been through this whole process.
And recently I got the news that an old friend of mine was also diagnosed with MS. I haven’t spoken with him – so I don’t know how badly he got it, or how he is doing …
I spoke about it with my other friend (sorry to be cryptic – my friend can identify herself if she feels like it – I just don’t feel it’s my place) … and she said, “You know … it’s not a death sentence.” It’s so good to talk with her about this stuff. It was like the lead-up to the diagnosis was almost scarier (as Stephanie so eloquently describes). The symptoms can be quite freaky, and intermittent … and also, they could be harbingers of so many other diseases, or tumors, or what have you. Not knowing what the hell is wrong with you is, of course, a tremendously upsetting experience.
Please go check out Stefanie’s blog for more information, as well as a video put together by the MS Society.
Also: Stories of MS Very inspirational.
More information here.
Forgive me, but – “…there’s her ass…pass the wine.” hahahaha
I’m pretty sure “this friend” won’t mind me finding the humor there.
Thanks for the reminder that it’s MS Awareness week.
Jayne –
and then of course we have the theory that your sister actually GAVE our friend MS by a karate-chop to the brain. Which I witnessed.
That’s right!! I forgot about that. Mere??? What do you have to say for yourself??
This has a very special meaning to me.
And though this is one of the charities
I give to, I didn’t know it was MS awareness week.
Thanks for the reminder.
Regards, Hank
I don’t know a lot about MS, but I LOVE your friend’s optimism:
I sometimes wonder if I’d have the strength to have an outlook like that. I think many afflicted with AIDS are starting to feel that way also (even though, eventually, 5, 10 15, 20 years it probably is). Same with many cancers…
I’m happy that the continued research in a HUGE variety of medical conditions gives people hope, and reminds us with good health, how blessed we are.
My grandmother has MS, and has done for quite a long time. She has other aches and pains and old injuries, too, so sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s due to MS. JK Rowling is a big advocate for MS research–she lost her mother to it just as she was starting to dream up Harry Potter, which she has said made that scene in book 1 with Harry gazing at his family in the Mirror of Erised much more poignant.
HEY! it was a knee strike to the chin! NOT a karate chop to the brain. However, it was so powerful, the energy went straight thru her chin, and caused lesions on her brain, thus, the MS.
sorry “friend”…didn’t mean to cause this disease. (Babycrier!)
BUT…I had nothing to do with this new lesion.
Ok, ok- I am the “friend”. Sheila- thank you soooo much for posting about MS Awareness Week. Every little bit helps- it is such a strange disease, and the symptoms are so variable. One person may have a mild case, while anothe person can have very severe symptoms.
Every Friday at my school we have “Dress Down Friday”, where the staff pays to wear casual clothes. There is another woman in our school with MS also (her name is Beth, also- weird,huh?) and the school is donating the proceeds to the MS Society this week. It made me all choked up when I saw that in my mailbox yesterday.
And by the way, Mere gave me MS with the “bad toe” that got chopped off by the radiator. So no need to worry anymore. She couldn’t help it- and it is gone. (There, there Mere.)
beth – hahahaha you make it sound like there was a rabid radiator on the loose.
I didn’t know there was another woman with MS at your school – did you tell me that? wow. God bless your school for donating the proceeds. sniff, sniff.
I miss you – we all need to get together soon. I’m jones-ing for the sight of you giving yourself an injection while sipping on a nice glass of merlot.
And let’s not forget Teri Garr, one of my favorite actresses of the past few decades, who has handled MS with grace and has spoken eloquently on behalf of those who have it.