MS Awareness
I love that in the month of March we have an awareness week for bringing attention to multiple sclerosis and our efforts to find a cure. This past week was actually MS Awareness Week. I appreciate and I am quite sure that all of us who live with, and on some days, suffer from multiple sclerosis appreciate the week, the month, the walking, the biking, the Walleye fishing events, the banquets, the teleconferences, the meetings etc. But many of us who have multiple sclerosis know that our awareness pertaining to this disease is not only March, but, January, February, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Our journey with MS just does not stop and start in March. Our journey is daily. Daily we check our physical and our mental health. Before I get out of bed, I give thanks for a new day and pray that this day will be a good day. Daily I wake up taking a mental check to see how my body is feeling on any given day. I have to make sure that my limbs are in working order, that my vision problems are at a minimum and track my body aches and pains to see if they are new or something from before. This is my life and I am pretty sure that many other people with MS feel the same way.
One thing that I do like about MS Awareness is there is a flurry of activity and interest in the disease. This is the time people remember that, hey, Carla Has MS. I get emails and Facebook messages regarding how I am feeling, what medications I am on and exactly what is MS and the big question...Is it contagious? I no longer get upset with this question because people just do not understand this illness, even family members. They do not understand my limitations, the noncontagiousness of the disease etc. I come from a family full of Type A personalities who believe that if you don't move it you lose it. And yes, with MS you have to keep mobile to combat against spasticity. I too understand this notion, but...there are limits to what I can now do. I cannot go constantly with no breaks. Those days are long gone. And I am okay with that. This is my life now, there is nothing that I can do about it and its okay. I know that my family and I deal with the ramifications of MS daily. There are good days and then there are series of bad days. This is my life. This is my awareness. My MS Awareness is not just in the month of March, or the week of awareness, but daily. That is my awareness, and I am okay with that.
Today I continue to be aware, as is my family and friends. But, thanks for the MS Awareness week and month, but please don't forget about us when it is not March. We are still here. Our MS Awareness is today, tomorrow and forever more.
