Multiple Sclerosis March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness month, and I hope you will follow along with me this month to share and spread awareness of this chronic illness. Let’s start by explaining what Multiple Sclerosis is in medical terms. “Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The cause of MS is still unknown. Scientists believe that a combination of environmental and genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing MS. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease.” Quoted from (https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS) Now that that is out there, what is M.S to someone diagnosed with it? Well to me M.S is the great scary unknown, It’s the worry of waking up one day, not being able to walk, use the restroom, see, or move a body part. It is the worry that my husband will someday have to change me, wash me, see me in hospital beds, unable to do anything to protect me. It is watching my mother blame herself, feeling unable to help her child, worry all the time that she won’t be able to be near me! It’s not being able to enjoy the activities when you want to, being in so much pain you can’t move and no pain medications work, being so tired even after just waking up, losing your eye sight every day in one eye when your stressed, hot, or tired, and the numbness, twitching and shocking of your muscles and other body parts. Even with all that negative and scary information, M.S is also the positive, It is watching the weakest people overcome and succeed past the expectations. It is watching people who have no hope, fight and help others learn to fight through the hardest parts. The community who raise awareness and funds to help the ones who can’t help themselves so they can have a fighting chance. It is the ones who truly listen to you and your issues who understand on a deep level. The ones who will call, message, and even send EMS to you if you are suicidal and depressed. I have seen the best encouragement in people who are the most effected to those who are still mild in their progress. Just because one is scared themselves doesn’t mean we wont help others overcome their fears and worries. Multiple Sclerosis cant scare the best of everyone and it is ok to feel those feeling, that is the human in us. As it is said “The only one to kick our ass, is our own selves”. Continue to fight, to try, and remember to breath! Having M.S stopped me in my tracks for a long time. I have went from wanting to become a teacher to being to scared of the medical issues and time needed off to continue the journey. Even then though I continued being a nanny and babysitter for families. Now that I’m starting Ocrevus that option is ending also, so I decided to start up to start selling my art works and doing commissioned art works. As latter you will see those post to start buying. The funds of this will go towards my medical costs. As many of you know it is expensive to be chronically ill, I myself spend close to 30,000$ a year and that’s out of pocket. Sometimes its more and sometimes its less. So a little extra helps allot. Anyways this is M.S and this is the Chronic Artist saying thank you for reading and following. It means allot!
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Nikki
Multiple Sclerosis warrior, who is a striving artist and a enthusiastic world traveler. Archives
April 2020
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