A Year of Transitions with Multiple Sclerosis -- By Donn

​2015 was a year of transitions for me, new MS drug, new daughter plus an increased caseload at work. Most of these changes have been great so far.

I couldn’t love anything more than my daughter (don’t tell my wife or Son). She has been such a blessing! Whenever I stumble into the room she is there with a big smile and recently a “Dada!” to go along with it. She makes me weak in the knees, or is that the MS? Either way she has really been a great addition to our family. Originally I thought having two kids would be twice the work of having one? I couldn’t have been farther off with that prediction. One kid was tough to start but after awhile my wife and I had it down, how much tougher could another baby be? Much tougher! Now it's man to man instead of zone, there is no more “Toss me a diaper would you?” Now if there is a diaper disaster taking place I’m all in as my wife is busily tending to my son.

Along with my kids at home I have 12 more at school, and while I might not be changing diapers for those munchkins I am waist deep in paperwork for them. Teaching special education I guess that is par for the course, this year just seems to have a few more meetings than the past few...combined.

Often times I feel as I am juggling the two occupations, dad and teacher and doing ok. Other times I feel like one or the other is consuming all of my time. This is the struggle all working parents have I guess but if I neglect my other occupation as a person with Multiple Sclerosis that's when things really get interesting.

Between dadding, teaching and MSing things have been extremely hectic for me. I’m still cruising on the Paleo diet and that’s all good, I can only imagine how I might feel if I wasn’t eating well? My eyesight has really started to take a turn for the worse. My hands have become really weak and my balance has left the room.

With all the added stress from work and home maybe this wasn't the right time to change medication?

Be a warrior today,

Donn

---