I've been pretty quiet on social media and this blog for the past few years.
A pandemic and a neurological autoimmune disease (plus 1.5 years of home schooling) has made life a lot different and a lot more challenging.
But, I am still going to take the time to recognize this day and its significance. Because it has been an entire decade of living with MS. A decade of so many medical appointments, hospital visits, and well over 3000 at-home injections. A decade of many unknowns and many ups and downs.
A decade of having vertigo and balance issues, plus constant fatigue that feels like being stuck in the mud. Numbness, loss of vision, nerve and sensation damage.
But you know what? I am so proud of myself. Proud that this has become fairly "normal.” As my Mom used to say (I would get so mad when she said this), I truly have "learned to live with it." It's part of me, without defining me. I can still thrive AND have multiple sclerosis.
To the people who have remained constants in my life during this time - thank you. It makes a bigger difference than you know. Thank you for knowing that I need to rest a lot, and can't always do the things I used to do. Fighting a mostly invisible disease is lonely, and kindness keeps me going.
So, it's been 10 years. I'm here, fighting (but with more naps now) as best I can.
I never could have imagined I'd get Multiple Sclerosis, and it took a while to accept it. But living with a disability truly has helped me grow as a person, better advocate for myself, and learn to shut out anything that doesn't serve me or my life. It’s sometimes surprising to me that it took facing illness, disability and mortality to better value myself. For that part of this experience, I’m so grateful.
Here's to staying healthy-ish!
