Update done October 25th, 2008



I had to start using a cane in spring of 2007. Whenever we go anywhere that requires very much walking I have a scooter I use and what a blessing to have it. The H.I.M. 2007 Biker Sunday was fast approaching and I was so limited compared to the year before that I knew I was going to be extremely limited in my ability to get anywhere. In talking to my brother I found out that his scooter had been sitting in the backyard for over two years untouched in all weather. He told me if I got it working I could use it as much as I wanted to. We took it to a mobility cart place and the total cost was only $220.00 and that was for new batteries. My husband tells everyone - when we got there (Biker Sunday/Weekend) my wife took off and I didn't see her for three days. LOL LOL LOL It has given me a lot of freedom in many circumstances.

Cognitively I think I am better than I was as I am eating much better these days. I am following an eating plan I followed before and lost 175 pounds. I have lost 30 pounds so far with lots to go so am not overly excited yet but will be soon enough I am sure. I have believed for a long time that what we eat has more to do with our health than anything else. Second to that is our emotions.

My legs hurt often and are weak. We are exercising three times a week now and I have experienced some increase in strength but it's not the same. I am still weak in an MS sort of way which, is hard to explain.

We had to give up our good health insurance as of January 31st of this year. Neal no longer gives himself the Avonex injections and we are both happy about that. They never give you any kind of conclusive evidence that they do anything anyway and all I know is that it is a bunch of chemicals going into your body that only MIGHT slow down the progression, but at what expense to the rest of your health? Plus, he definitely does NOT miss the day after flu like symptoms that made his "day after" so miserable.

All in all I am healthy and happy. The Lord makes my life something it could never be without knowing Him. MS or not? Makes no difference to me! God is sovereign and I trust Him completely. Having MS does not make me ask WHY?, but rather makes me praise the Lord all the more. Somehow when I was in the hospital those 59 days I felt so special that God would allow this in my life. I can't really explain it as I didn't consciously choose this perspective, that is just how I felt and still feel.

Neal is also doing pretty good. Once in a while I will hear him say "Having MS sucks!". It is right after he just did a physical thing and he is so fatigued unmatched to his physical output he becomes overly aware of what MS has done to his physical output capacity.