Category Archives: Blog

The Dalai Lama Says:

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Dalai Lama: “Spiritual practice involves, on the one hand, acting out of concern for others’ well-being. On the other, it entails transforming ourselves so that we become more readily disposed to do so.”

Just thought this was so eloquent and true. I love the Dalai Lama’s ideology, quiet intelligence, and life force. I’m not a follower of organized Western religion (early Catholicism beat it out of me), but I definitely consider myself spiritual. I think this hits the nail right on the head and I appreciate the Eastern religions’ values placed upon the population as a whole— worship is not just viewed as a vehicle for individuals’ wants, needs, desires, and ultimate redemptions. Selfless and what I imagine true spirituality to be.

Posted in Blog, Exercise/Meditation Info

Stepping Up

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A few things are changing around here. For the past couple of years I’ve been (somewhat) satisfied with being a safe haus frau, writing from home, and having the occasional jaunt out during the week to volunteer or visit with family members/friends. Working from home has been a blessing in terms of keeping me employed part-time (I also receive Social Security benefits, which took 2 1/2 years of scanty employment, complete hardship, and tenacious interactions with the Social Security Administration to receive.) But now I need more. I need an outside, part-time career. For my own sanity.

I’m starting graduate school at the end of August. I’ll be doing an online distance ed Master’s of Social Work— MSW— program and it’ll take between 3 – 4 years, with clinical rotations, to complete. The clinical rotations will be separate from the classes, and they’ll require about 18 hours of in-person work a week. As the turtle, I’ll be very slowly and steadily taking this program one course at a time for 8-week increments pretty much year-round (I WILL get a little time off between 16-week semesters!)

At the same time, I am now making and will continue to make some needed changes within myself to be more than I currently am. Some important tweakings. 😉 How can I be of service to anyone if I have unaddressed issues of my own? So a more cohesive Jen. And two of the initial areas I’ll be addressing will be my inner and outer strengths. I’ve found a local yoga studio, the Center for Health and Healing, which will have me work the front desk on Thursdays from 9 – 3pm in exchange for unlimited free yoga classes and 1/2 price massages. It’s finally time to get out and do some yoga! I’m pretty excited and I think the 6-hour commitment each week will help me slowly build my outside work endurance (I’ve been maintaining about 8 hours of weekly sedentary volunteer work thus far.)

I believe in my mind, my heart, and in my soul that I can maintain about 12 – 20 hours of mostly sedentary work each week. No more long hours on my feet as an ultrasound tech. But this is fine with me, as I believe in my mind, my heart, and in my soul that I can be of service as a medical social worker, and now’s the time to begin this new chapter in my life.

Yoga job starts bright and early next Thursday morning… 🙂

Posted in Blog, My Own MS Journey

I Met Joan and Lisa and Sonia— What Fun!

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What a great day yesterday! I ventured down to Delaware to meet Joan (from A Short in the Cord and Joan’s MS Chat Room), Lisa (from Brass and Ivory, MS Central, and The Carnival of MS Bloggers), and Sonia (one of Joan’s local MS buddies and a fellow chatter.)

Woo Hoo!!…… It was awesome to meet fellow MS writers and chatters in person, after nearly two years of online interactions. And we found that we had TONS to TALK ABOUT in person. Joan was a little concerned that we might have nothing to say when actually brought together in one room, but not so. We had lots of laughs, we shared more information, we learned more deeply about one another’s lives, and we also talked about NON-MS stuff!

An MS issue we did discuss: what did we feel were our greatest multiple sclerosis symptoms and did they greatly affect us? Joan and Sonia mentioned their stopped-in-their-tracks fatigue which altered both of their career paths. I mentioned my own embarrassing and VERY annoying bladder and bowel urgencies, and Lisa explained her right leg weakness and the compounding rheumatoid arthritis hand symptoms (although it was good to hear that her current RA med is helping BOTH of her conditions.)

We enjoyed food and some wine and we gazed at Joan’s adorable backyard with bird houses, feeders, and many visitors. Joan’s home actually backs to a water runoff area that has filled in since she moved there, giving her a serene small pond that she shares with other neighbors. SO COOL!…..We even met Joan’s husband Tedd and I got some better directions home, since I got thrown off course with MapQuest’s ambiguous information (SIGH…)

All in all: what a GREAT TIME!…. Thanks for such a splendid day, ladies, and I can’t wait to do it again soon. We hope to continue and make this a tradition, involving more MS ladies who’d like to gather and celebrate good food and good friendships and LIFE. We all ROCK n’ ROLL!……

Posted in Blog, My Own MS Journey

Thanksgiving Blessing

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Happy Thanksgiving…Here’s an Irish blessing that I pass along to you:


“An Old Irish Blessing”

May love and laughter light your days
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Posted in Blog

Happy Halloween!

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Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. I’ve been very busy freaking people out with my clown costume, watching horror flicks, enjoying the beautiful autumn leaves and crisper temperatures, and making more “homestyle food.” Hope this post finds YOU well and in a lighter mood: the term “Laughter is the best medicine” is a cliche for a reason— it’s absolutely true and it never changes. Try to put the MS up on a shelf for a while and take the time to enjoy this spooooooooky season…….I know I am!!

Posted in Blog

Two Examples of MS Strength

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“….beauty remains, even in misfortune. If you just look for it, you discover more and more happiness and regain your balance.”

~ Anne Frank

Some days I open my email and/or read my comments and I’m blown away. Today I’m having this sensation as I behold an email with the above quote from Herrad, my reference that I turn to again and again when I need to understand MS tenacity, steeliness, and absolute bravery. I haven’t been over to her blog Access Denied – Living with Multiple Sclerosis as of late ( I do have her blog and a small collection of other blogs in my Google Reader treasure trove.) I DO follow along silently and listen to her story: I sometimes feel that responsive words are not necessary. I suggest you take a look, as she is a fantastic and emotional storyteller.

The below comment I received on my About page (as often happens when people come across this site through search engines or just by accident.) I DO appreciate them and they make me realize that I’ve touched others, maybe in moments of sadness, joy, weakness, or strength. Thank YOU for making my day, Bruce, and I’m honored that YOU’RE bookmarking ME…. 🙂

Hey Jen,

I’m part of the minority (males) who was also diagnosed late in life. I’m currently 53 and was diagnosed just before Christmas in 2007.

I probably had MS for a much longer period but a serious rollover auto accident back in 2000 and the physical aftermath hid the real cause for a slowly developing limp and my mobility issues.

I’m lucky enough to still be working at the same job I have had for over 36 years but I am also worried about the future. I came out of the MS closet just before last Christmas to two upper management co-workers and shared my condition with two more this past week.

Kudos on your web-site! I have bookmarked it and look forward to visiting it regularly as a resource. As my condition changes I am starting to go back in the research mode to educate myself.

It’s obvious you are a glass half full lady and I believe that helps. My motto which I told my bosses when I shared my condition with them was… I still had a great head on my shoulders and I could still get across the room when needed… it was just going to take me a little longer in the future.

Regards,
Bruce


Posted in Blog

MS Break and Labor Day Weekend

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It’s honestly great to have been away from routine multiple sclerosis writings. Although the condition is a big part of my life, I try not to let MS rule. And I have the luxury of being well enough to actively seek respite, but seasoned and knowledgeable enough to never take the respite for granted. The summer has come and gone and my mind’s been elsewhere. I’ve maintained some writings here and I will see some changes occur in September concerning my New Mobility work as well as an innovative project that will also be starting.

Enjoy your end-of-summer weekends and the possible new beginnings that this time of year often bestows.

Posted in Blog, Videos

My Interview with a Journalism Student

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I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed by Madeline Eubanks, a journalism student at the University of Washington. She was piecing together a story about the benefits of technology for MS patients. Another writer and I were mentioned for our websites, as well as MyMSMyWay.com for its technology collaborative.

Interesting piece:

People living with multiple sclerosis are using blogs to create a network of similar patients to share tips, experiences and important information.

MS is an autoimmune disease that targets the central nervous system when the body’s defense system attacks the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerves, disrupting nerve signals. This chronic disorder can lead to disability and death.

“I was looking at my son,” said Jaime Hagarty, an MS patient, discussing one of her MS relapses. “And I couldn’t even tell you what his name was. I knew he was my son, but I just couldn’t match that up cognitively.”

Hagarty said that when she was diagnosed in 2004, she felt like she “lost control” over her life. In March 2006, Hagarty started a blog called My MS Journal (http://mymsjournal.blogspot.com/) as a “creative way” to deal with her illness. Within a week of opening the blog, Hagarty received comments from people “all over the world.”

“I didn’t think that anyone would care about what I had to say,” Hagarty said. “I never expected to have the response I did because I never figured anything I had to say, and what I was going through, would mean anything to anyone else.”

Hagarty has been named a Top Health Blogger by the Multiple Sclerosis Community of Wellsphere.

“I realized that there were people out there with MS who were going through similar things,” Hagarty said. “I realized there was this great network out there. That really inspired me to do something more than just a journal. I started to make it a one-stop shop for people with MS. I wanted it to be a resource for others going through the same thing.”

Hagarty’s blog has not only helped other people. She’s also helped herself. “My blog has saved me. When I started my blog, it opened up a whole network of people like me,” Hagarty said. “It has helped me understand my illness.”

Jennifer Gerics, age 38, was diagnosed with MS in 2005. Gerics maintains a blog called MS Strength (http://www.msstrength.com/). She started blogging in 2008.

Gerics covers a wide variety of topics. Some of her topics include book reviews such as “Women Living With Multiple Sclerosis” by Judith Lynn Nichols, MS off-market drugs like Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN), and the first World MS Day on May 27, 2009.

“I just wanted to tell my story and give others positive encouragement,” Gerics said.

Blogs are one of the several technologies MS patients are turning to. On July 16th, MS Technology Collaborative, a team sponsored by Microsoft, Bayer Health Pharmaceuticals, and the National MS Society, launched the three “Brain Games” to help MS patients exercise the visual, dexterity, and cognitive functions of the brain.

Ellen Kampel, a public affairs manager at Microsoft, is a co-author of the Tech Connect column at MyMSMyWAY.com, and has lived with MS for thirty years. She has also tested the Brain Games.

“It’s kind of like brain aerobics,” Kampel said.

Kampel’s MS symptoms include temporary losses of vision and the muscles in her hand “locking up.” When these symptoms occur, Kampel uses other technologies such as voice recognition software.

“It’s important that technology can adapt to the changing needs of the individual,” Kampel said.

Elizabeth Morrison is a physician at Cascadia Multiple Sclerosis Center, a clinic that serves about 320 MS patients. She has a mild case of MS. Dr. Morrison is also on the MS Technology Collaborative steering committee and was a beta tester for the games. She has referred the games to some of her patients.

“It’s nice to have something free and online and easy to access,” Morrison said.

Dr. Morrison also mentioned the Snapshot Tool of MyMSMyWay.com that indicates symptoms patients are having, such as cognitive issues or motor control problems. When the basic symptoms have been found, the Snapshot Tool guides people to different resources, such as text readers or voice activation.

“The sky is the limit when you have resources,” Morrison said. “There are all kinds of amazing technologies that are available for people.”

Hagarty is “grateful” for the assistance technology has given her, especially for the network her blog uncovered. “It’s nice to have that support system,” Hagarty said. “It’s nice to know that you’re not alone.”

Posted in Blog, News / Research

Man on the Moon

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Hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since the Apollo 11 space mission brought the first men, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, to step foot on the moon. I was yet to be here, but my older brother and my parents watched on their black and white TV as a HUGE accomplishment took place. I do recall being home from school, years later, to witness the Challenger shuttle disaster (with brave teacher Christa McAuliffe as part of the crew.) Life went on and through more successes and mishaps the space program continued.

Here’s to the accomplishments of some mighty brave individuals who have inspired us to push beyond our imagined limits, and to see that we’re all little wonders within this vast universe.

Posted in Blog, Videos
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