Dick's Story
My story begins in 1975. I was 24 years old and in the Marine Corps. My younger brother Jim was in the Army. In that year, Jim was diagnosed with mutipile sclerosis (MS). This was the first I had heard of the disease but certainly not the last.
Four months after Jim's diagnosis, my mother, at the age of 44, learned she too had MS. My mother didn't let that stop her. She continued working at a pharmacy for six years after her diagnosis. Unfortunatly, my mothers body couldn't keep up with her, and she eventually became bedridden and was hospitalized from complications of MS.
Jim fought MS much like my mother did. He was dedicated to his wife, three children, and work. However, eventually MS got the best of Jim. At the young age of 44, he passed away after contracting pneumonia of MS.
In 1995 I was also diagnosed with MS. At that time, the day that changed my life began like any other day. I started my day by taking a shower. While in the the shower, I felt like I was going to pass out. When I got out of the shower I fell and landed in the hospital. At the hospital, I had an MRI. Once I recived the results from the MRI, I learned that I too had MS. I was only 44 years old.
My wife Pam, my children,and my grandchildren are essential for me in coping with MS. My best medicine is my grandchildren. Six yr-old Noah is my fishing partner, but really I think he just likes to drive the boat. On days when walking is difficult for me, Noah will touch my legs and say, "there grandpa,i fixed them." When I get depressed, Noah, his brother Eli, and their sisters Nina-Jayde and Aaralyn give me the strength to keep going.
I now have even more of a reason to fight then ever, because my youngest brother, Don, has also been diagnosed with MS.
It's unusual, but not rare, for multiple family members to have MS. I can't help but worry that the trend will continue, with my kids, Justin and Amber, or my grandchildren. This is why continue to fight on by voulnteering for the National MS Society and co-facilitating a Self-help Groupin Auburn/DeKalb County.
For me, this story began thirty-two years ago. With the support of people like you, hopefully, it will end soon with a cure.
