Multiple sclerosis, Treatment, Uncategorized

Reefer badness

I am intensely curious about the origins of quite random things — from Post-Its and sushi to wooden shoes and certain psychotropic drugs. Really, who was the first person to think that smoking a plant was a good idea? The thought never would have occurred to me. Cannabis sativa. Known colloquially as marijuana. Also goes by pot,… Continue reading Reefer badness

Advocacy, Multiple sclerosis, Uncategorized

Hot off the presses

I was fortunate enough to get to write an article in our statewide newspaper about parents with disabilities (it runs today in the FamilyStyle section). I was even more fortunate to get to talk to two fellow MSers who have been giving this disease hell for far longer than I. It's encouraging to see these comrades… Continue reading Hot off the presses

Multiple sclerosis, Treatment, Uncategorized, What was I thinking?

The shot heard ’round the house

I knew it was bound to happen. Nearly six months into treatment, I am experiencing serious shot fatigue. We've not exactly been vigilant in following the when of the injection here lately. It's supposed to be every other night, but I think we've gone about three days without doing one this past week. The where… Continue reading The shot heard ’round the house

Advocacy, Multiple sclerosis

Faugh a Ballagh

I didn't realize it until I woke up this morning and got ready for the day that I really don't have much green in my wardrobe. Black in every shade? Check. A bunch of gray? Check. But no green. And no orange. Which poses a slight problem, being that this is St. Patrick's Day and… Continue reading Faugh a Ballagh

Advocacy, Multiple sclerosis, Uncategorized

Art and advocacy

I have been so privileged in my life to be around the arts — what a supportive, embracing world it can be! I have been dancing since I could string three steps togehter, and kept going all through college. I quit after that, but through my very dear friend and mentor, Jennifer, got back into… Continue reading Art and advocacy

Advocacy, Multiple sclerosis

The last to leave, the first to try

Watching the horrors unfold in Japan, I'm struck today by the technicians at the Fukushima nuclear power plant who stayed behind. As everyone else was evacuated, these 50 or so operators crawled around in white jumpsuits with oxygen tanks strapped to their backs, trying to stave off further reactor trouble. Radiation is a given at… Continue reading The last to leave, the first to try

Multiple sclerosis, Struggles, Uncategorized, What was I thinking?

Ramble on

What is it called when you get off an airplane? What is that body of water that is sometimes man-made and doesn't travel? Hell, what is that muscle in the top part of your arm? I've forgotten all of these in the past week. Week, people. Word retrieval has long been the bane of my… Continue reading Ramble on

Advocacy, Multiple sclerosis, Struggles, Uncategorized

Around my world in 180 days

Six months ago today I was in a hospital bed. My legs were these feeble, foreign-feeling abstractions of flesh and bone not living up to their purpose. Just work, dammit! I pleaded to them over and over and over. My head was swimming from a cocktail of steroids and pain medicine. My life had been… Continue reading Around my world in 180 days

Multiple sclerosis, Nick

Laissez bon temps rouler

I am a list-making fool. Grocery lists, laundry lists, word lists, to-do lists, want lists, goal lists, naughty lists, nice lists, lists of my lists. Admittedly, even a bucket list. It changed slightly when I got multiple sclerosis, becoming this dichotomous entity of "things I want to do and maybe still can" and "things I will… Continue reading Laissez bon temps rouler

Fitness, Multiple sclerosis, Struggles, Uncategorized, What was I thinking?

Born to run?

Today is the Little Rock Marathon, an event that has drawn elite athletes and weekend runners and ... me. At least for the 5K. What can I say, I like wearing medals like I'm Mr. T. I've never much been into running as my calorie-burning activity of choice. I enjoy the scenery and the commune… Continue reading Born to run?