I'm Still Me?

At 42 years of age I was diagnosed with MS. I had a husband, an 11-year-old son, and a 6-year-old son. My husband brought me home from the spinal test to confirm the diagnosis, then got in our car and drove away. Luckily I had my boss's phone number, who then came to pick me up from work.

The important lesson that I learned

I learned quickly that I am still me. A capable worker, mother, and survivor. My husband came back home a week later. He was frightened by what the doctor diagnosed me with and had run away to process, leaving our 2 sons and me without transportation, but I dealt with it. He saw how brave and determined I was to still be ME! He was in and out of our lives until 2015.

I was always there

Meanwhile, I went to all the school functions and sports practices (those steps in the stadium were awful), and worked concessions. Whatever my boys needed, I was there. Once the youngest graduated from high school, he left for another woman. I was able to continue to provide a home through disability payments I got since I had worked so many years. The boys got part-time jobs, cars, and girlfriends.

I look forward to the future as a grandmother

I'm still me, mainly because I was me. 23 years of weekly Avonex injections. I'm still walking with my cane, often with a son beside me. Hopefully, in the near future, I will be a grandmother. I will cuddle, rock, change diapers, and eventually bake cookies with them.