What A Difference

What A Difference

 

Yes it is.

She was noticeably upset sharing the story of her father’s situation.

How a bum knee hampered his once busy lifestyle.

He was due a knee replacement in the coming weeks but till then was forced to use a walker.

He struggles to get around.  And he almost fell once!” she said in near tears.

I about laughed in her face.

What a difference MS makes, am I right?

Can I get a “heck yeah” from the choir?

I wish he could spend a week in my jockeys.  I “almost fall” before the morning’s Fruit Loops.

Sometimes I fall…getting up from a fall.

Granted, she apologized to me knowing my plight.  Saying MS no way compares to what her dad was going through.  But it was still difficult for her to watch him struggle.

Thinking about it, my kids have practically grown up with me having multiple sclerosis.

My youngest wasn’t yet a year old when I earned my MS degree.

To them watching me scuffle is like a Seinfeld rerun.

Oh we’ve seen this one a million times.”

Story of my life.

 

In fact when I fall anymore, they don’t even come running to help.  They’ll ask if I’m okay then go on with their business.

They have grown up with my MS pains.

We have grown together.

Part acceptance of the disease, I suppose.

I share this story because we as MSers take our fits & fights for granted.  They come as easy as taking a vitamin C.  What may be a tearful struggle for some is a nonchalant “eh” to those of us living with MS.

We are not better, mind you–just battle tested!

Keep moving my friend.

 

6 Replies to “What A Difference”

  1. Love it Doug. Story of my life. Family is so accustomed to this and they laugh because I always fall in slow motion. I bounce, not break 😂

    1. Joanne,
      Fall in slow motion? Cool. Like to see that! Good thing you bounce! Thanks for your comment!

  2. I always try to find something to laugh at when I fall. Is it just acceptance or hysteria? 🤣🤪

    1. Tina,
      That’s good. Wish I could laugh more–I get frustrated. Acceptance or hysteria?…Hmm, maybe a combo of both. Thanks for sharing your point.

  3. I’m probably safer confined to my wheelchair than when I could stand up. I could not fall without breaking a bone. My MS degree earned me a broken arm, broken elbow twice, and broken foot twice (always the right foot so I couldn’t drive ). My orthopedic surgeon was on speed dial!
    Never had a good story to go with the broken bone. Skiing, skateboard? Nope, just walking and collapsed.

    1. Margaret,
      Yikes! Sorry to laugh at your pain but your ortho on speed dial is a good one!
      Can’t really compare to your peril…I’ve broken fingers & a collarbone.
      Thanks for reading & sharing your story.