No Map Needed

 I was talking with my friend “Ellen”(I must protect her privacy LOL) the other day, and she had a great deal going on. I said I am so sorry, I know it will be crazy. Her reply was, It’s no step for a stepper, and I am a stepper!” This was just another kindred spirits moment with my friend. I told her I do not hear that saying often, but I like to say it and it is one my mom often uses! It got me to thinking about my disease and my struggles. How I am and will always be more than a diagnosis. How every day is not hard. And on the hard days, It is no step for a stepper and my momma raised a stepper.  You see, Ellen and I, we see people who have really big struggles. Struggles they may or may not recover from. We help them as much as we can. We have bonded through our love of these people. She reminded me of this phrase that is motivational to me. She is not a quitter. She adopted that phrase long ago, like me. And I am not a quitter. It really stinks to have to say no. To not g...

 MS is not a pretty disease by definition. There will always be beauty in its parts. There will always be lessons learned. There will be laughter. There will be friends made. Some days I get to encourage others, and that is amazing. Some days though. The ugly side is bigger. It is meaner. It is just harder.  Recently- for the last 3 full weeks-I have dealt with that. The knocking down of my once too good immune system is hard. My sweet boy caught a cold. He shared it with me and I cannot recuperate. Upper respiratory became lower respiratory which became bronchitis.  Steroids. Doctors. More doctors. So damn grateful for my physician friends. The ER. I hate the ER. Not the people working it, they are heroes. The situation of the ER. The people who use it for their PCP driving the cost of healthcare higher. The chaos of the waiting room. The fear and anxiety. The needles. I hate it. I am thankful it exists, and for what they did for me.  This last 3 weeks has taken a t...