NYC

Over the years I have visited New York City maybe a dozen times, it has always been a special place to me, there’s nothing quite like it. Once I even took my girlfriend there and proposed to her right on the Brooklyn Bridge, lucky for me that worked out and she has since been promoted to wife!

The last time I was in New York was in the Spring of 2010 right before I was diagnosed. It was NYC that helped me see that I might be dealing with something big.

My trip was all fun and games as any trip to the City should be, I wandered late into the night with my friends aimlessly looking for the next chapter in our adventure. We covered many miles all over Manhattan, it was on the second day that my knee started to hyperextend during our excursion to locate a hidden establishment with a top notch Bloody Mary. When my knee started to hyperextend I was obviously worried but it was strange to me that it didn’t hurt? Here I was trucking all over the place and my knee would just bend at a not so good angle but no pain? I trudged on, we took a few more taxis but I was worried. For April it was unseasonably warm, mid 80’s so I was running hot.

Later when we got back to the apartment I took off my shoes to relax and I stumbled a little bit when standing up? Now that I look back on that I should have known something was up. It wasn’t until I woke up the next day that I was really alarmed, I couldn’t wiggle my toes on my left foot! Now I was freaking everyone out, “it’s probably a pinched nerve or something?” I assured. I couldn’t have been farther off, nerve yes but definitely not pinched.

I went to the doctor upon arriving home who sent me to the neurologist, who sent me to the MRI and then diagnosed me with MS two days later. That was a whirlwind, MS? But I was mostly healthy?

Fast forward six years and I was headed back to the big city, this time was more business than Bloody Mary’s but a trip to New York is all good! Since being diagnosed I have ridden a rollercoaster of ups and downs but I am stable now and in a great place mentally. Over the past three years or so I have really taken command of my MS and don’t let it slow me down anymore. Diet has been huge, yoga has been huge and meditation has been incredible. For me keeping a positive attitude has been very important. Before I changed my mindset I was fixed on the negative aspects of the disease potential, things were not looking good.

As I walked and walked I was constantly looking at my fit bit, 1 mile, 2 miles, 5 miles, 10 miles(almost)! There was no way I planned on putting nearly 30 miles on when I was leaving for this trip, but I did it. My daily goal is just under 3 miles, so I met that often by noon. Four years ago there is no way I could have walked ten miles in a day, I would have talked myself out of it, “No way I feel terrible, I’m too tired”, “it’s too hot”,”it’s too far”” every excuse.

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As we were ready to board the plane for the ride back to Detroit a woman from our group asked me what I did to my leg, “MS ”I replied, “Oh, I thought it was a prosthetic, you're really lucky to be so mobile with MS!”  “No I’m not lucky I have been working very hard to be this mobile”.  Thank you New York it was a pleasure, until next time!

Be a warrior today,

Donn