I was recently away on vacation visiting my parents and aunt and uncle down in Florida, and I felt pretty good: I maintained a nice steady pace and I sorta kept up with the seniors!… Things have been about the same (healthwise) for a while now and I like to think that no news is GOOD news, hence the lapse in website writing and the increase in meeting the outside world with grace and gratitude.
I’m falling into a pleasant groove here with some library and hospital volunteer work getting me out of the house and some freelance writing ventures keeping me employed and satisfied. I’m also in the process of applying for the Master’s of Social Work degree (MSW) through a couple of universities. My primary interest is in a college in Maine that offers an accredited– VERY RARE– distance education program with a part-time, in-person clinical component. I think I can handle this and conserve my energy until the final clinical rotation.
So things have been peaceful, steady, and sane here for the past few months. Whew!!
This past Sunday my husband Bill and I got out and volunteered at our local MS walk. We’ve been doing this for four years now, and the vibes and the camaraderie are always upbeat and supportive. I like to help run the registration table and assist participants with forms and donations and Bill finds himself getting shirts for the walkers who raise a certain level of money.
This year I also had the opportunity to meet a newly-diagnosed girl (she appeared to be in her twenties) who had a rough first attack. Her mom sat next to me at the registration table and she came over with her small walking group to talk. Jenni wasn’t participating in the walk herself because she was rebounding from leg paralysis and was happy to be out of a wheelchair and using a cane. Both mom and daughter marveled that I “looked so good” for someone who had battled MS for nearly 12 years. I had to confide that not everyone has a bad first attack and I was one of many patients with a LONNNNNNNG and winding road to the proper diagnosis. Even though Jenni and I had different stories, we both had similar symptoms– as do many MSers– and we related to one another. I then invited her to attend the next local in-person support group in our area. A guy from high school got me to it, and I wanted to “pay it forward” and get her to consider. So Jenni and I may hopefully meet again.
