She can do a few steps here and there with a walker; she can transfer herself in and out of the chair; but with the level and number of exacerbations she had, walking just won't come back very easily. Yet, when I talked to our dad this afternoon, I got the distinct impression that he's surprised she still can't really walk, now that she's out of the hospital and all.
Soapbox moment: Folks, if someone you know has MS, do everything you can to learn about it.
It's a wacky, frustrating disease, and it can affect people in all kinds of different ways. Do some research. You. have. the. Internet! Makes it really easy to learn about stuff like that.Once you've learned a little, do something. Go on an MS Walk. If you're more athletic, do something more ambitious, like an MS 150 bike ride. And if you're not athletic, but your brother-in-law is, and he does one and asks you for a donation, make a ****ing donation this time, m'kay? Researchers are making headway, but they need funding to keep going. And we know you can afford it, so I'm going to ride you as hard about it this year as my husband rides that bike.
Photo: All the cousins of my generation who were present at my nephew's wedding. The one who is sitting down is in her wheelchair, on a 3-hour pass from the hospital. Sure, she looks good, but she can't walk. And only one other person in this picture has really tried to understand why.
6 comments:
Hugs to you, and prayers for her.
One my best friends from uni, who was my chief Bridesmaid back in the day, has had relapsing/remitting MS for something like 15 years now (she was diagnosed just before the birth of her second child). She uses a chair for the sake of efficiency, but gets about the house with sticks and stunned me at my ordination 4 years ago by WALKING all the way up the aisle of Gloucester Cathedral.
It's a horrible disease in its unpredictability, but just sometimes that can work in your favour.
More hugs and prayers xxx (oh..and the verification is "Spera" which MUST mean hope in some Latinate language)
PS You look fantastic in the photo - so so glam :-)
How frustrating, for you and for her!
Yuck. I'm sorry about it all.
I have a cousin and an old friend who both fight MS. For their sakes we support our friend who rides the MS 150.
Not the comfort you deserve, but a laugh is better than a poke in the eye.
Old wives' wisdom: You can pick your friends but you can't pick your family.
Kid's joke wisdom: You can pick your friends. You can pick your nose. But you can't pick your friend's nose.
Post a Comment