Written For MSMusings
This morning I woke wondering what MS had in store for me today. Lately my days have been tormented with this sort of thinking. Feelings of fuzziness in my legs, loss of strength in my arm - details that are scaring me at best. My conscience tells me it will pass. So I am holding on to that sort of assurance because MS has made me a determined person. I will not allow myself to stay in this valley too long. It may take a few weeks, even medication but eventually I will pick myself up and proceed with my life which I feel to be promising.
What has MS given me? Besides the jigs and reels of trying to follow doctor’s orders and do those nasty injections? Hmmmm, let me think. MS has given me much to consider. The value of life is on the top of my list. In fact it’s only last evening I received a call informing me that a young lady from our town had been killed in a car accident. Instantly all of my inhibitions disappeared as I wondered how her family might cope with such news. At that moment I was ‘yet again’ reminded just how fortunate I have been thus far in life. Considering the devastation which her family has to cope with, I count myself a lucky individual. MS has taught me not to take life for granted. It has taught me not to take my family or my friends for granted, but to be thankful and appreciative of all that I am and all that I have.
It has been nearly six years since I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Initially I could not allow myself to look that far into the future. Fear of the unknown had captured any sort of hope and optimism. I was stuck in a world of disbelief and unrest. Time certainly does have a way of sorting out the details and putting things into perspective. In October of 98' I surely didn’t picture myself where I am today. Six years can change so much in an individual’s life. It did mine.
Considering the fact that my career was down the tube, I was very unsure of what my future held. At twenty-eight I certainly was not ready to roll over and call it quits. Surely there must be something more to life than this. So many days, so many hours - what would I do with all of this time? This is it - writing. I felt compelled one day to write my story, to share some of my experiences and feelings surrounding my diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. This conviction to write resulted in my first book - A Child of The King which was published in December of 2002. This publication brought about a real sense of accomplishment. Perhaps the book might not even sell. I didn’t care. I was now a published Author and no one could take that away from me. Since that time I have had my second book - Coffee Sweeteners published. In April of this year it was released. And guess what? I am in the process of proof reading my third book - Relentless. You see MS has not diminished my ability to succeed. In fact it has given me the inspiration to write in an attempt to encourage others.
You know I could give you a long list of the positive details in my life since MS. Living with this disease is trying but we all know that we were never promised a worry free existence. These trials we face, these bumps in the road, will one day make us stronger. Everyone deals with some sort of disappointment. It is up to the individual to decide if it will bring them down or build them up. I choose to accept my challenges, face them head on and I am certain I will come out a winner. MS has given me much to consider but considering I have MS, I think I am doing just fine.
By: Joanne Blundell Marsh aka Jojo