Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
This community is a place where members can discuss current events and weigh in on what's going on in the world.
This is NOT a political post!!!
While listening to reports on tv about the goings on in USA i learned that Ann Romney has Ms.
The entry in Wikipedia says...
'During 1997, Ann Romney began experiencing severe numbness, fatigue, and other symptoms, and just before Thanksgiving in 1998, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Mitt Romney described watching her fail a series of neurological tests as the worst day of his life. He later said: "I couldn't operate without Ann. We're a partnership. We've always been a partnership so her being healthy and our being able to be together is essential." She initially experienced a period of severe difficulty with the disease, and later said: "I was very sick in 1998 when I was diagnosed. I was pretty desperate, pretty frightened and very, very sick. It was tough at the beginning, just to think, this is how I'm going to feel for the rest of my life." Since then, a mixture of mainstream and alternative treatments has given her a lifestyle mostly without limitations. She initially used corticosteroids, including intravenously, and credited them with helping stop the progression of the disease.She then dropped them and other medications due to counterproductive side effects.She has partaken of reflexology, acupuncture, and craniosacral therapy, and has said, "There is huge merit in both Eastern and Western medicine, and I've taken a little bit from both." She is a board member for the New England chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and has been given the MS Society's Annual Hope Award.'
I think it's great that people with a high public profile are furthering people's awareness of Ms.
Our Australian of the year Simeon McKeon, has Ms.
While listening to reports on tv about the goings on in USA i learned that Ann Romney has Ms.
The entry in Wikipedia says...
'During 1997, Ann Romney began experiencing severe numbness, fatigue, and other symptoms, and just before Thanksgiving in 1998, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Mitt Romney described watching her fail a series of neurological tests as the worst day of his life. He later said: "I couldn't operate without Ann. We're a partnership. We've always been a partnership so her being healthy and our being able to be together is essential." She initially experienced a period of severe difficulty with the disease, and later said: "I was very sick in 1998 when I was diagnosed. I was pretty desperate, pretty frightened and very, very sick. It was tough at the beginning, just to think, this is how I'm going to feel for the rest of my life." Since then, a mixture of mainstream and alternative treatments has given her a lifestyle mostly without limitations. She initially used corticosteroids, including intravenously, and credited them with helping stop the progression of the disease.She then dropped them and other medications due to counterproductive side effects.She has partaken of reflexology, acupuncture, and craniosacral therapy, and has said, "There is huge merit in both Eastern and Western medicine, and I've taken a little bit from both." She is a board member for the New England chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and has been given the MS Society's Annual Hope Award.'
I think it's great that people with a high public profile are furthering people's awareness of Ms.
Our Australian of the year Simeon McKeon, has Ms.
Now he is running again for President. The interview with Wolf Blitzer showed clearly they don't want to discuss this. She is "in remissiom" and suffers from fatigue.as most people do" She refers to 'exasperations'.
It is her choice how she wants to handle it. She has an opportunity to serve as a voice but hat voice has been mostly silent and is doubtful that voice will change.
The first time he ran she discussed how she was doing well in Utah and was not happy about him running for President.
Melanie
As for a voice, I doubt it.
For that matter it seems to me that any voice out there that is somehow related to a politician is muted at best.
Michelle Obama's father, Fraser Robinson, had MS and died at a fairly young age due to "complications of MS" whatever that means.
I had wished that she would have had a word or two to say about MS as she is certainly in a position to SAY SOMETHING!
Her father continued working until he dropped dead basically and managed to walk with two canes. :(
More about Fraser Robinson here:
http://www.life-in-spite-of-ms.com/fraserrobinson.html
>>> Multiple sclerosis is sure to get a lot of exposure as a result of the Obama connection. It would be very good if Michelle would make it one of her causes. But even if she doesn't, the fact that her dad had MS will probably make many more people aware of it.
There are people, Actresses and others trying to raise awareness, Montel Wiliams, Alan Osmond, Teri Garr, David Landers, Tommy Hilfiger and others just to name a few and of course all of us :)
I feel the same about Mrs. Obama. Yet any hint at illness seems to be immediately hushed up. But we had a TV series The West Wing where the President had MS?!
Did you all know the prosecuter in the Timothy McVeigh case (OK city bombing) had MS?
My feeling is there must be continued awareness of this awful disease if we ever have a chance of a cure.
Melanie
My compromise is to tell some families after the funeral, if I can do it without just blurting it out.
So I can understand why some people don't wish to disclose the matter.
Here is a little about Simon (not Simeon - sorry) McKeon. I heard him interviewed recently and he said that he is inclined to down play his Ms as he has been so well. (I can relate to that!)
'The Australian of the Year 2011, Simon McKeon, is a leading social entrepreneur and prominent businessman who demonstrates how business and philanthropy go hand in hand. His lifelong efforts to support Australian and international charities has earned him great admiration and respect in the community.
The 55 year old from Brighton, Victoria has enjoyed a successful career as an investment banker and he has equally committed himself to engagement with the community sector in an effort to maximise the impact he can bring about for the benefit of people in need. With community service high on his agenda, in 1994 Simon transitioned into a part time role as Executive Chairman of Macquarie Groups Melbourne office, enabling him to support a range of causes and organisations, including joining the board of World Vision Australia.
Simon is currently Chairman of the CSIRO and Business for Millennium Development, which encourages business to engage with the developing world. He recently retired as Founding Chairman of MS Research Australia and Founding President of the Federal Governments Takeover Panel. His association with World Vision International continues and he is involved with the Global Poverty Project and Red Dust Role Models, which works with remote Indigenous communities. Simons achievements also include a World Speed Sailing Record with crewman Tim Daddo. '