Still Going as Fast as I Can

With a late diagnosis (1999 when I was 52), I finally had the answer to what was wrong with me. For years I'd had some testing with inconclusive results. It had gotten to the point that I felt like I had something wrong in my head. I fell, I had tingles, I had numbness, and finally had optic neuritis. Was I making all of the symptoms up? The MRI showed that I did have something wrong in my head-lesions! It was a shock and I envisioned immediate wheelchair outcome. Scared, I read as much as possible about MS, got on a DMV (Avonex), and proceeded to keep living.

My father told me to run as far and as fast as possible until I fell down, but then to get up and go off again. He's been living that philosophy as a full-time dairy farmer and I saw him get up again and again while growing up. His list of injuries that he recovered from is impressive, as farming is a dangerous occupation. Dad doesn't have MS, but at nearly age 92, he's finally gotten to the stage when he can't get up and go on two legs. His wheelchair moves at a good clip, and he joked me last week that he beat me to the wheelchair stage!

I've had some cognitive issues that make the spouse shake his head, such as how did my purse end up in the dirty clothes hamper, or double checking my calendar as to what is happening that day. I still keep track of bills and the checking account, although he's taken over the cooking and much of the cleaning. Full retirement arrived and I took advantage of leaving the workplace, even though I loved working with small children. We've survived moving into the Medicare stage, and keeping the prescriptions straight is about the worst part of that.

For those of you who are worried about what your MS will be in your 60's, don't fret. Go as fast and as far as you can each day, and tomorrow will come for another chance at living the best life you can live.

Cheers