I Wear Orange for ME! ~ Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month

I have MS. Multiple Sclerosis. 

multiple sclerosisnouna chronic, typically progressive disease involvingdamage to the sheaths of nerve cells in the brainand spinal cord, whose symptoms may includenumbness, impairment of speech and of muscularcoordination, blurred vision, and severe fatigue.

I was diagnosed in 1998. That's 15 years. I started showing simptoms in 1995. That's 18 years. My neurologist says 18 years. 

I'm fine. I'm healthy. I've done a lot of wonderful things. I'm very lucky. I'm very blessed. 

March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness month. So I'm going to make you aware. 

Your welcome. 

photo credit: @we_have_ms on Instagram

I've tried to tell people how tired I am. It's always met with how tired they are, too. Sometimes I feel like it's unfare. That they aren't listening. I guess they aren't. Sometimes I feel like they don't care. Maybe, but I think they just don't know. They don't understand. 

True strength is holding it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart. 

Sometimes I do fall apart. My family has seen it. But they seem to love me anyway. Sometimes I just need to go to bed. My husband is wonderful at holding back the kids so I can nap. It's not too often that I need a nap, but when I do, it feels like I'm crashing. I actually fell asleep in one of the meetings at church last Sunday. That's never happened before. I was sent to bed.

There are four types of MS, with the first type being the most common:

• Relapsing-Remitting MS
  People with this type of MS experience clearly defined attacks of worsening neurologic function. These attacks, which are called relapses or flare-ups, are followed by partial or complete recovery periods (remissions). Approximately 85% of people are initially diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS.
• Secondary-Progressive MS
  Following an initial period of relapsing-remitting MS, many people develop a secondary-progressive disease course in which the disease worsens more steadily, with or without occasional flare-ups, minor recoveries (remissions), or plateaus. Approximately 50% of people with relapsing-remitting MS develop secondary-progressive MS within 10 years.
• Primary-Progressive MS
  With this type of MS, neurologic function slowly worsens. There are no distinct relapses or remissions. Approximately 10% of people are diagnosed with primary-progressive MS.
• Progressive-Relapsing MS
  In this relatively rare course of MS, people experience steadily worsening disease from the beginning, but with clear attacks of worsening neurologic function along the way. They may or may not experience some recovery following these relapses, but the disease continues to progress without remissions. Approximately 5% of people are diagnosed with progressive-relapsing MS.

 I have Relapsing-Remitting MS. Like I said, I've had it for 18 years. Blessed. That's all I can say.


I usually walk in the MS walk in our area. Last year my kids, my husband and I walked as a team. But this year, the walk is scheduled for the week we have our volunteers out to help us open. Yes, it's that time of year again! We need to be here, helping with the work. I am disappointed. But I don't have to walk to earn pledges! I'm signed up as a virtual walker. So please, make a donation. HERE!

I also wanted to share this great company:

Yes, again with the Instagram! I know, I know! These guys have opened a shop selling men's leather jackets and with each purchase they donate to The Brass Family Foundation for MS! How cool is that!
Plus, during the month of March, they have doubled the amount they will donate per jacked. So act now!

Go to their website (www. atomwillis.com) and get yourselves, your spouse, your roommate, your boyfriend, whatever, a jacket. It's cold outside!

You can also find them on instagram: @atomwillis They have really cool picts.

Don't just sit there! Join the Movement!
Thank you.