Gratitude

[Mark1499]

I want to say thank you to this forum. It helps when you hear other people talk about their experiences with MS. People who don’t have MS have NO IDEA what it’s like can frustrating, It’s affirming supportive and can be educational. I don’t spend much time as many as I spend as much time as possible being active and pushing myself to slow progression. I am on a structured schedule waking at 5 AM and after the morning meds kick in I typically start kicking myself. I pray for everyone on this every night and single out those that need to be. God bless you all for your support and Love and I hope you will find the peace he wants us to have. My next accomplishment I want to do is to skydive while I am able. Thanks again!

[donna0329]

Thanks for posting such an inspiring message. And I hope you get to sky dive as soon as you are able. You're much braver than I am, too! 😇🙏🙂🤞😽👍

[MSFlea]

My sister-in-law went skydiving a few years back and loved it! Offered to go with me if I decided to go. Who knows what the future could hold!? I hope you get to go do that skydiving, it looked like amazing fun from the video of it that she showed me!

I've only had my diagnosis since 2/2/24, but already this community has been amazing!

[Mark1499 in reply to MSFlea]

Thank you and it is. Occasionally you will come across someone who is angry or brash but I try to show them as much grace as possible. If I were in their shoes I’d probably be too. 99% of the people are understanding supportive and can really uplift your spirit. Some post inspirational or funny but the main issue is. With MS KNOW ONE can know what you’re going through but someone with MS. I don’t get on like others my day starts at 5 AM and I don’t stop moving until I have to. I’ve asked the Lord to help me do as much as I can while I can. Skydiving is definitely on the list and I hope it happens in March. Plus I have a 25 year old son who had planned to go into the Air Force. He originally wanted to be a PJ a special forces warrior/medic.This was his dream since 10 years old. He married a Venezuelan national who came into the country the right lawful way. Unfortunately he’s not mine anymore so I can only encourage. His wife is a self entitled narcissist and he is drunk on love. She hates me. So much so that she’s trying to get him to cease all contact with me. Plus she doesn’t want him to even leave her for basic. He’s a grown man who got his AS degree with honors is an awesome young man with so much opportunity to fulfill his dream I just want my boy to be better than me. I told him in a letter if you choose never to contact me again I Love you and i’d like to here one more time “ I Love you Dad “ I don’t have a lot to lose so my plan is to have my jump videoed captioned “ My 62 year old MS old man jumped out of a perfectly good airplane before you so I know who the little b•tch is “! Sorry for rambling!

[MSFlea in reply to Mark1499]

I think it is awesome that you are so active! My goal/dream is to be in awesome shape before I'm in my 50's (I'm 43) and I had been losing hope for that with all the symptoms I've been having and now the MS diagnosis. But I'm reading that staying active helps, and your posts are inspiring. I may not be able to be in as fantastic a shape I had hoped, but I will work my best and make sure I'm in the best possible shape I can be. I get up about that time too, I am a morning person, and can't seem to sleep in unless my body just really needs it. Even then I have to get up for a little bit and then go back to bed.

I hope your son follows his dream and stays in contact with you.

[Mark1499 in reply to MSFlea]

Thank you! I’m probably making it sound a little better than it is but I made MS a job that you can’t ever miss a day! Honestly I wake up in incredible pain suffer the foot drop or what I call. Jelly legs! Only God knows but symptoms go back almost 20 years. When I was diagnosed in 2019 I had 75 lesions which had grouped together causing 3 black holes. I asked my neurologist if someone put their finger in my head they’d be sucked into another dimension.😂I just blessed and grateful! Thank you for your kindness

[CatsandCars]

I couldn't agree more. Very well put!

[greaterexp]

This group was so helpful when I was first diagnosed. Even friends and family who are supportive still can’t really understand. I get so many helpful ideas and lots of laughs, too.

[Mark1499 in reply to greaterexp]

Even people from my Church were acting as if I’d been fooling or something. Years of losing jobs focus fatigue s/t memory and the only person who came to me and apologized for the things he had said was my son! Followed by “ I love you dad “ was my greatest memory. He’s married living in Tampa. This is where I come to know that people understand! It’s unbelievable the amount of sick people with the BEST attitudes on this cite!

[greaterexp in reply to Mark1499]

I had a few from my church say they'd heard of MS and try to share all possible fixes, none of which had any validity. I knew their hearts were in the right place, but I finally had to thank them and say that my doctor and I were happy with our plan. I explained to others whom I thought would understand me better that the best thing they could say was, "I'm sorry about your diagnosis. How may I help?" Most of the folks in that little church are from a generation even older than I (is there a generation older than I? Ha!), and didn't consider that what I wanted most was just a hug. They were used to trying to fix things.

[Mark1499 in reply to greaterexp]

I have sense changed where I worship. I now am at Church of the Highlands where you are accepted and not judged or chastised. This was all his plan I just didn’t realize it at the time. Since you are my sister in Christ I have a prayer request. Being disabled we are on a fixed income and sometimes have to decide between medication or food. Two days ago my car check engine light came on car started skipping so I took it to my mechanic. He called and said after diagnostic so many codes were showing it would be a 2500$ minimum. I told him I had CarShield so he’s trying to get them to replace the engine. 100$ deductible!🙏

[greaterexp in reply to Mark1499]

I will be praying that God will provide for you in the best way possible. Inflation has hit everyone, but has hit those who are disabled much more than the average person. Keep us posted about the car.

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

You have a wonderful attitude, Mark1499 , and a fantastic outlook on life! Don’t let ‘ms’ stop you, and tell your son ‘I love you’ every chance that you get!

[Mark1499 in reply to carolek572]

Thank you and God bless!

[stepsforNeeC]

God Bless you my friend! Skydiving….”wow” as my granddaughter would say lol. I push myself too! Hubby and I walk 5 miles in the Spring for my church to help bring awareness to Human Trafficking! Proceeds help many girls and victims. Continue on my friend- we are Stronger than MS.

[ahrogers]

I will add you to my payer list 🙏🙏 have you tried indoor skydiving? I have been thinking about it 😁

[Mark1499 in reply to ahrogers]

Thanks, I’ll probably have to take an extra kolonipin 😂 but knowing where I’m going after I die helps my courage and conviction! The plan is for March so hopefully you’ll see a post , post with a video attachment if possible.

[Neworleanslady]

slydive?? U crazie!!

Thanks for the gratitude and prayers. Prayers to you too! Reading your words inspires me to do more (at least WANT to do more). 🤣

[Tazmanian]

enjoy skydiving