MS Tuesday-MS Videos

This week I am just going to post these two videos that were made by the MS Society about the causes of MS.  I hope you enjoy these videos.  If you have any questions please leave them for me!  As always I am looking for topics.  If you have one please leave it in the comments!


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Helena’s Story

I was barely 18 in 1975 when I gave up my son. I live in Alberta, Canada and at the time the Alberta Government looked after adoptions. I came from a supportive family and my parents said they would stick by me and my decision.  I knew from early on in my pregnancy that I would give up my son for adoption.  The father of my son was not in the picture. I wanted him to have every chance with 2 parents.  In 2004, the Alberta Government opened up all adoption records.  Unfortunately there was quite a backlog and only 2 people assigned to work on this large task. I was already on the registry but called to get an application.  It took a long time and I had heard nothing.  I called in March or April only to find out I hadn’t filled out the papers correctly. The papers were sent back to me to fill in again.   After filling out the forms again, I resent them.  I waited and waited and by August I went to my member of parliament to get some help. 
By September 26, 2005, my son’s 30th birthday they arrived in the mail. I was overwhelmed at seeing for the first time, my son’s name was Steven. I didn’t know what to do so I called my older sister and she told me to search for phone numbers and start calling.  I found names on the computer in Canada 411 (a telephone white pages on line)  I only made four calls and the fourth call was to Steven’s aunt.  She didn’t let on that she was related and wished me luck on my quest.  She called her brother (Steve’s Dad as she had call display) and he called Steve and Steve called me.  I asked him if it was his birthday and he said yes. I told him who I was and asked him if he had a good life.  He said he had and asked me the same. I have had a great life and better now that I found you.  I told him I always knew we would meet someday and I was thrilled.   I had moved to Calgary which is 180 miles south of Edmonton, where he was born, in Jan 1979. It turns out Steve family moved to Calgary that same year.  We lived close by each other for a few years. Steve only worked a couple of blocks from my work. I met his parents and adopted sister as well. We all went to dinner.  My son Tony and I were invited to his wedding and his mom introduced us to her 12 siblings.  It was very emotional. I told Steve’s Dad that I couldn’t have made a better choice for parents.  He said that the children never once gave them any trouble. Steve has been married now for 2 years and they are expecting their first child. Unfortunately his Dad passed away 6 months after the wedding.  We now look forward to the birth.  I am blessed!

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Musical Monday’s-Memorial Day

If you would like to play along with this new meme all you have to do is:

  • Grab the button
  • Write a post that includes a song and why you like that song
  • Come back and link up!

This week for the songs I have chosen songs that are patriotic because of Memorial Day.  The first two I have loved for ever as for the 3rd one I just found it this past week and it made me cry!  I hope you all enjoy the songs!


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Great Giveaway!!!!

As I was reading my blogs and saw this!  I signed up to giveaway a design.  They are excepting 75 people who want to give something away.  You should chick on the button and go sign up!
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A Great MS Advocate & Blog Writer

I am not sure when I first found Stuarts blog and website but I get most of the ideas for my MS Post from him.  I wanted to give all the other MS patients out there the link to both of his sites and information about him.  I re-posted this from his website with his permission.

About Stuart Schlossman    –  Updated   12.16.09

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MS Patient, Writer, Blog writer, Editor of Stu’s Views and MS Related News and Founder of the ‘MS Views and News’ organization
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My name is Stuart Schlossman and I Have MS. Relapse Remitting to be more specific.
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I live just outside of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I have been married since 1988 to Patrice, and have two grown daughters and three grandchildren. When I am not resting I have three dogs that keep me busy and I volunteer as a co-facilitator for the National MS Society, as well as for MS Views and News.
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I was diagnosed with relapse-remitting MS in December 1998 after several years of symptoms including headaches, blurred vision, fatigue, vertigo, carpal tunnel syndrome, Bell’s Palsy and leg stiffness.
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Having gone through the process of checking for a brain tumor or other severe problems, MS was finally diagnosed. Although I was relieved to learn that I didn’t have a tumor, I was still dumbfounded and was severely depressed for many weeks.
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After meeting other people with MS, I felt I had to help those whose symptoms were worse than my own. I don’t see MS as a disease – for me it is an illness, one that I had to do something about. I was once in denial and then realized that I was “chosen” to have this illness.  Chosen for the mouthpiece that I have and the desire to help others.
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I formed an independent support group but wanted to achieve more. I contacted the National MS Society and a year later became the Committee Chair of the South Florida, Coral Gables MS Walk event. Every year my MS Walk Team, Team Hot Shots, has raised lots of money over the years. It is great to know that a part of this money is being used to fund patient programs in the local area, and a percentage is also used to fund research. For me, the Walk is both therapeutic and empowering. After Chairing the Coral Gables walk for (5) years, I went on to chair the Ft. Lauderdale walk for a couple of years. Last year, was my last, in chairing walks as I have found that with the time that my body allows, I need to concentrate on what I do best.
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In 2003, with my cognitive functioning worsening, and fatigue becoming an even greater issue, I found it increasingly hard to concentrate and carry out my job as part-owner of a business and in April 2003 I stopped working. This wasn’t easy but it did mean I had time to help others with MS.
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In 2005, I decided that I would like to do more so I designed and helped to organize The MS Health Expo for the National MS Society’s chapter here in South Florida. This first event took place in January 2006 and has continued to help many affected by MS each year. Most beneficial is the panel of MS professionals that lead a Question and Answer (Q&A) session.
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I have co-facilitated a local MS support group since the early 2000’s. This support group has become more of an Education Program and continues to meet once a month. Guest speakers are invited to discuss the issues and topics faced by the members. Topics have included a wide range of needs by the MS patient.  For me, the group is about educating and empowering people with MS and their caregivers to make the most of their lives through better management of the illness. Each year, we have our holiday party and Santa (ahem) comes for a visit to put needed smiles upon those that attend this yearly function.
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Sorry to be jumping around with the context but  In approx 2005 – (my memory is horrible so I really do not know if 2004 or 2005 ), I began writing archiving information in a blog called Stu’s Views and MS Related News, which was later superseded by the current version, Stu’s Views & M.S. News.  It is the blog postings that provide most of the information found in each week’s e-Newsletter.
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“Stu’s Views and MS Related News“, is an e-Newsletter that I began sending to just those involved with the support group in about 2001. Then more and more were learning of the information that I was sending each day and eventually I had to stop sending daily messages as the information just continued to surge (via my knowledge of the internet) and the amount of people asking to be registered climbed to such heights that it made it impossible to send the information daily. In approx 2005 I had to begin only sending the newsletter once per week as the information was clogging people’s inboxes as I was one of the few, sending MS related informational e-Newsletters as that time. Now there are many organizations doing the same thing and many have coined my phrase: “e-Newsletter”.
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Recently when looking at notes of mine so that I could write this profile, I noticed that back in 2007 when I was doing an interview for the MS International Federation (MSIF), I reported that 900 people were receiving my e-Newsletter.  However as of today’s writing (December 16, 2009), I can say that I am now sending this e-Newsletter to e-recipients in (58) countries and upwards of 6000 are reading it directly from me, each week.
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In approx 2008 I created my website, along with my brother who is the brain behind being a webmaster. It was first called MS Views and Related News, as was the original name of the organization that I founded. Last year though, with Board Approval, we shorted the name of the organization to MS Views and News( http://www.msviewsandnews.org).
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I and/or “MS Views and News”, can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Live Journal and Linked-In.
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Monthly, our site is viewed well in excess of 100,000 times by people from all over the globe. Oh yes, I do love the internet. My vision for this organization is for MS Views and News to globally raise the level of education and awareness to millions of people impacted by Multiple Sclerosis.
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I want to empower people with knowledge via my website, e-Newsletters, blog and by providing education programs that I know as a patient, is needed by my peers.
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For that which I have been doing, others are taking notice. Many large MS organizations, such as the National MS Society, The MS Foundation, The Heuga Ctr, (now known as Can Do MS) and others have asked and continue to ask me to post items to my blog with regards to their organizations or with regards to topic information that they want greater exposure. In reward I guess (best to say) some have done interviews of me, like the MSIF did in 2007 and the MSF has written of me a few times.
Most recently, the National MS Society added this to their website:  “Ex-Salesman Uses Net to Inform, Persuade” –  Posted in April 2009 to the National MS Society’s website.
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At one time and not too long ago, I was still extremely active. But the disease has caused me to make major modifications to my lifestyle, which I am sure that many with Multiple Sclerosis can understand. My fatigue hits hard each day and then this seems to cause secondary symptoms such as vertigo, blurred vision or the annoying tingling. I live with headaches most days and otherwise have varying pains, including skeletal pain, cramps and spasticity. I cannot type for long as my fingers cramp or ache. I cannot sit for too long or my body stiffens. I cannot stand for long or walk too much because I lose balance. Fatigue strikes everyday. Usually at about the same time, but sometimes it fools me and arrives a little earlier or a little later, depending on my activities.
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Fortunately, I do what I do, from the privacy of my home office. I stop as often as needed to take breaks, take a nap, and read  or to just play with my dogs
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I have used many of the different MS medications and advocate their usage for all MS patients.
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What may good for one patient may not be for another. Hence the reason for different products such as Tylenol, Advil and Motrin. Same principal, behind this.  All who have Multiple Sclerosis should be using one of the FDA approved medication to delay progression of their disease.
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My current motto is: “Why Accept Disease Progression”?  Especially when there are so many choices, thanks to broadening MS research.
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I hope that one day there is a cure for all of us living with MS and then a way to be found to reverse whatever damage has been done to our bodies and minds by this illness.
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Dr. King once proclaimed “I have a dream”.
Well, Stuart also has a dream.  My dream is a world in which all men and women with MS can live independent of this disease (illness).
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The information found above was updated by me (Stuart Schlossman) on December 16, 2009
Since December 2009 – Our newsletter as of this mention (April 2010 ) is now being received in (72) countries

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Letter To Her Children

To My Children; May I Show You The Sunrise

Dear Daughter or Son;,

You are only a Newborn Baby at this time you rely on me for many things. You trust that when you cry I will care for your needs, whether they be feeding or changing, or even just letting you know that you’re not alone. As I cradle your little body I can’t help but feel of the tenderness and sweetness of your spirit. Your needs are so simple right now. Someday though, you will have to face the world. At that time, you will rely on me to help show you the way.

The world can sometimes be an ugly place. I would teach you to see the beauty that we often times just don’t take the time to notice. To take a moment to notice the brilliance of colors staining Florida clouds at dusk. To walk barefoot through dew covered grass. To play follow-the-leader with a butterfly as it dances from flower to flower.

I would teach you to love your fellowmen. Whether black or white, your orientation, short or tall, big or small, all of these are children of God, and thus, your brothers and sisters. Find the goodness in them. Extend your arms to them, encircling them in love and kindness. Learn to truly love them by serving them. It is through service that your heart will fully open to those who you might otherwise despise.

I would teach you to show gratitude, for there is much in life to be thankful for. If we fail to give thanks, then we begin to become apathetic. On the other hand, when we show gratitude we begin to see just how blessed our lives truly are.

I would teach you to always continue learning. It is through learning that the world continues to better itself. Lack of education lends hand to poverty, to crime, hate, and violence; all things ugly are a form of ignorance. Likewise, all that is beautiful can only be appreciated when one knows how to appreciate it.

I would teach you to love yourself. You are a daughter or son; of God, and that makes your spirit; one of nobility. Always remember who you are. You are of great worth. You, my daughter or son, have a work to do on this earth, a work that only you can accomplish. Through knowing who you are you can learn to love yourself. Then you will never want to do anything that would keep you from your potential.

I would teach you to search out your talents and gifts and then use these to better the lives of yourself, your family, and your community. Each of us have these gifts. Whether it is the ability to sing well, or having the ability to make another happy, these are all talents. By using our talents we will continue to develop them more fully and increase the joy in our lives.

I would teach you to develop virtuous attributes. Honesty, integrity, diligence, these are all virtues that are not always easy to obtain, but they help us to keep a clear conscience.

Above all, I would teach you to seek for truth. Search with not only your mind, but also your heart and when truth is found hold to it. Never let go. My greatest hope is that you will have peace and joy in your life. I would teach you that truth will bring you happiness.

We are only just beginning our quest through life together. I don’t know what lies ahead for us. I do know, however, that as a mother I will make mistakes and that as a daughter or son; you will sometimes be angry with me. At times you will be hurt by the things of the world and I may not be able to remove that pain. Sometimes, I may feel as if I have failed you.

I suppose this is all part of motherhood. Yet, if I can help make your path through this world more joyful, if I can help you find true happiness, even though you may receive some bumps and bruises along the way, then I will know that I have been successful as a mother.

You life has only begun, but let me show you a sunset…

Love, Mom

© 1999 Pamela Bianco Johnson
To My Children; May I Show You The Sunrise
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