HealthCare Journey for Multiple Sclerosis
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Virtual MS Center
    • Q & A for Virtual MS Center
    • Read About Our Virtual MS Center Staff
  • News & Resources
  • Seminar Registration
  • Health & Wellness
  • Blogs
    • Physician Blog >
      • Healthcare Provider Blog
    • Physical Therapy Blog
    • Patient Blog
    • Caregiver Blog
    • Research Blogs >
      • "Ask Dr. Debbie" Research Blog
      • Multiple Perspectives In Multiple Sclerosis Research Blog
  • About MS
    • What is MS?
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
    • MS Tips
  • Symptoms
    • Balance and Walking Issues
    • Breathing/Respiratory
    • Bowel Dysfunction
    • Cognitive Dysfunction
    • Crying/Laughing Uncontrollably (PBA)
    • Depression and Anxiety
    • Dizziness/Vertigo
    • Dysphagia
    • Fatigue
    • Foot Drop
    • Hearing or Smell or Taste Changes
    • Heat Sensitivity
    • Leg Weakness
    • Loss of Hand Dexterity and Coordination
    • Memory and Mutliple Sclerosis
    • Migraines
    • Numbness/Tingling/Altered Sensation
    • Nystagmus and Oscillopsia
    • Pain
    • Sexual Dysfunction
    • Sleep Issues
    • Spasticity/Spasms/Cramps
    • Speech/Swallowing
    • Urination/Bowel Problems
    • Vision
  • MS Clinics
  • MS Topics
    • Pregnancy and Infertility
    • Caregivers and Family Members
    • Employment and MS
    • Medical Costs and Insurance
    • Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
  • Register With Us
  • Terms of Use/Privacy/HIPAA
  • MS HealthCare Journey

Gratitude

11/12/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
I’m a wife, mom, grandmother, and oh yes….I have MS.  My joys are family, creating art, and cooking healthy.  My motto is “MS= Multiple Smiles” let’s journey FORWARD! --Terri
Picture
I am so happy to see the heat decreasing and looking forward to enjoying a change in season!  With the holidays approaching it is a great time to reflect and take notice of all that is GOOD in life.  What are you grateful for and how do you give tribute to those in your circle?

Being a fairly new diagnosed RRMS (diagnosis was May 29, 2013) individual it has certainly been a whirlwind of emotions and lifestyle changes this past eighteen months.  I have gone quickly from using a cane to now having two wheelchairs and a walker added.  Having felt all of the emotions along the way in not being able to stop the progression of disability has been overwhelming, 

Today, I feel happy and grateful for the journey.  Realizing the power in taking control of my health and sharing with everyone how wonderful life can be is my “new path”. I am determined to conquer MS in my own way despite hurdles and obstacles not in our control. 

I am exploring all sorts of exercise especially any sort of stretching and strength training.  Having experienced a tremendous year so far being in the hospital and skilled nursing facility for approximately sixty days brought my abilities to the lowest level so far.  I am working with Home Health Services for ongoing Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Nursing Services.  As is often the case, we fight MS and many other illnesses due to our low immune systems.

After recovering from a fifty-two day stay between hospital and skilled nursing center without being at home, I was grateful for the day I came back home.  My husband had been going crazy with working full time, a long commute, doing all necessary chores around the house and visiting me every evening and on the weekends.  I am grateful for my husband, family, and friends.  Without the support of my “community” I don’t think I would have recovered near as well!  My husband has been so supportive, encouraging, and when necessary the ”voice” when he observes I am doing too much.  Our love has grown into a new level of gratefulness for each other and for what “We Can Do, TOGETHER”….

In my next few blogs, I will share my love for healthy cooking, and how I love to create gifts and handmade items to share with those around me.  At one point in my life I taught recycled art in area after school programs for elementary age children, and memory book art to Sr. Citizens at a local tea shop.  I am currently redoing my studio area and downsizing my supplies to accommodate my wheelchair into my workspace.  This joy of my life in terms of employment has now ended, but my passion for creating for fun, has been thriving!  Would love to share some of these stories and other ways of how to turn MS into Multiple Smiles!  

The most important aspect of my life has turned to “paying it forward”.  With that thought, how can you pay it forward?  If everyone of us awoke tomorrow, and made a point of doing two nice actions that day, wouldn’t that mean at least two times tomorrow you would be filled with joy?  Since I am not able to do a lot of monetary actions, I have searched for other ways to accomplish this challenge.   I am learning to bake Gluten Free, and due to just having the two of us to eat, I have found such a joy to just get in my wheelchair and go next door to drop off a new tasty creation.  This practice used to be done very frequently when I was a child in Oklahoma.  Here in San Diego, I often find we don’t even know who our neighbors are!  Opening that door for just a little favor is such a joy!  

How are you going to “pay it forward” tomorrow?  What are you grateful for?  I am grateful for my abilities to be in my kitchen or my studio and then sharing with my “community”!  I am grateful to conquering anything MS throws our way! I am grateful for everyone in my life and their willingness to not only support me, but to learn all they can about MS. 

Terri
1 Comment
Sherry Bumgardner
11/12/2014 02:16:28 pm

Terri, your words touched my heart. You are such a strong and positive Goddess. I look forward to reading your blog as often as you post. Also don't forget, if you ever get the urge to come back to Kauai, you and your Hubster have a place to stay.
Always with bunches of Aloha
🌺💕

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    If you would like to become a blogger, please contact us and let us know!
    CLICK ON THE RSS FEED ICON BELOW TO GET A LIST OF ALL OUR PATIENT BLOGS

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2020
    March 2020
    January 2019
    September 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013

    Categories

    All
    Caregivers
    Cortisol
    Depression
    Diagnosis
    Diet
    Donn's Blogs
    Emily's Blogs
    Exercise
    Fatigue
    Fatique
    Foot Drop
    Heat Sensitivity
    Holly's Blogs
    Insurance
    Lizzie's Blogs
    Mobility
    Pain
    Service Dogs
    Spasticity
    Steroids
    Susan's Blogs
    Terri's Blogs
    Travel
    Treatments
    Tysabri
    Urination
    Work
    Yoga


© 2022 HealthCare Journey, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
HealthCare Journey™ is a trademark of HealthCare Journey, LLC
Picture
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Virtual MS Center
    • Q & A for Virtual MS Center
    • Read About Our Virtual MS Center Staff
  • News & Resources
  • Seminar Registration
  • Health & Wellness
  • Blogs
    • Physician Blog >
      • Healthcare Provider Blog
    • Physical Therapy Blog
    • Patient Blog
    • Caregiver Blog
    • Research Blogs >
      • "Ask Dr. Debbie" Research Blog
      • Multiple Perspectives In Multiple Sclerosis Research Blog
  • About MS
    • What is MS?
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
    • MS Tips
  • Symptoms
    • Balance and Walking Issues
    • Breathing/Respiratory
    • Bowel Dysfunction
    • Cognitive Dysfunction
    • Crying/Laughing Uncontrollably (PBA)
    • Depression and Anxiety
    • Dizziness/Vertigo
    • Dysphagia
    • Fatigue
    • Foot Drop
    • Hearing or Smell or Taste Changes
    • Heat Sensitivity
    • Leg Weakness
    • Loss of Hand Dexterity and Coordination
    • Memory and Mutliple Sclerosis
    • Migraines
    • Numbness/Tingling/Altered Sensation
    • Nystagmus and Oscillopsia
    • Pain
    • Sexual Dysfunction
    • Sleep Issues
    • Spasticity/Spasms/Cramps
    • Speech/Swallowing
    • Urination/Bowel Problems
    • Vision
  • MS Clinics
  • MS Topics
    • Pregnancy and Infertility
    • Caregivers and Family Members
    • Employment and MS
    • Medical Costs and Insurance
    • Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
  • Register With Us
  • Terms of Use/Privacy/HIPAA
  • MS HealthCare Journey