family
Unlike most diagnoses of Multiple Sclerosis 24 hours was all it took to receive my diagnosis and, what's more, it was me that asked to be tested specifically for MS
It was November 1997 when I went off to see a neurologist. I had been booked in to see the specialist following a car...
My son was four months old when my first obvious MS symptoms presented themselves to me for the first time. By the time I reached my diagnosis he was eighteen months old. The decision to have more children was not an easy decision though it was a decision that came quickly. Not wanting to play...
"POSITIVITY DOESN’T CURE CANCER!"
I stumbled across this link on social media last week, accompanied by the short headline (above) that seemed at first glance to say “see – I told you so! Being positive doesn’t impact...
As responsible parents in the 21st century, we never swear in front of our kids. (Ok I just lied. We try as hard as possible to minimise their exposure.) Thankfully, while they do happily parrot back some sayings that make me cringe, we appear to have succeeded in keeping them sheltered from...
I love Christmas. For me it is a wonderful season of remembering a first century teenage girl who was unmarried and pregnant, and the young man who stuck by her as she gave birth in a stranger’s stable. We try to reduce the stress that can be associated with Christmas in my family by keeping...
It’s that time of year that many of us send out Christmas epistles, updating friends and family on the events and adventures of the prior 12 months (plus allowing every parent an opportunity to showcase cute photos of our adorable offspring). In this post, I include my own personal twist on this...
Two years ago I could not have foreseen what MS would bring to my life. And no, I am not deluding myself with mindless positivity. I despise MS, although I have grown used to it. My surprise stems from the fact that I am a much happier person now than I was before my diagnosis....
The months leading up to the diagnosis of MS are difficult for most of us. But when a physician’s body fails them, there's an additional, subtle layer of angst to deal with. Doctors don't get sick. And when we do, it is uncomfortable for everyone involved. To witness another doctor proving...
A few weeks ago, I put up a post on Letting Go and the lessons learned from my three-year old. My seven year old, never one to shy away from the spotlight, was quick to point out Joshie doesn’t have all the answers. (I...
I hope you’re all well and living in the ‘now’ while exercising, meditating, brain-training, and eating in moderation, after my last post! Thanks so much for those who took the time to read, share, and comment on the last blog. This is my longest blog yet (and...
My grandmother had a saying “knock on any door and you’ll hear a story”. She knew how to put the kettle on quickly and she always had a tin of some nice, home-baked treat to enjoy with the tea and conversation.
Battling public transport is not a bad time to practice “door...
It's been a loooooooooong week, so I'm cheating and posting the entry I submitted to the #MyMSVictory competition.
My MS Victory is recognising:
- HOW to make it through the day...
- WHEN to call it a day...
- WHAT doesn't matter...
- and WHO does! ...
I had been planning a post about peoples reactions to my diagnosis, though it would seem that this decided it wanted to come out more.
The person standing there looking at me, physically looked like the same person I knew, though there was something behind her eyes. Self-...
In my last post, I outlined, using the analogy of Frodo’s journey, my own perception of the struggles I faced on my route to an MS diagnosis. If we revert from fantasy back to the real world, it was Christmas Day, 2013 when...
Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to read my first blog, and especially to those who took the time to comment. I love that I'm not alone in the MS closet, it's nice and cosy!
The topic for my second blog post was a simple choice for me. I feel I need to address the 'elephant in the...
In my introductory post, I alluded to the series of challenges I faced over the many months it took to reach a definite diagnosis of MS. I am following that up in this post by providing an overview of my perceptions of...
As a 30-year old male, I only ever thought I’d have to ‘come out’ the one time. After my teen years were dominated by feelings of fear and worry at the reactions and judgments I may receive by being honest with my sexuality, I came out in my early twenties, with much more acceptance than I had...
Pondering my MS as I do. I am surprised to find people see traits in me, that I don't. Amazing, courageous and strong. "Who", "what?" " Are you talking about me?".
I'm not these things. The most amazing, courageous and strong people for me, are the many I have known and encountered on...