I have just learned of a colleague who was diagnosed last Friday with ALS. When I heard about this energetic kindergarden teacher and her diagnosis, I felt very, very fortunate that I have MS and NOT this disease! I remember before I was diagnosed that for about two days I panicked when I considered the fact that I could be diagnosed with ALS. Then I began to hope for MS! Wow, I guess it is all in the way we look at things. I was relieved, in a sense, to find out that I had MS and not ALS.

When I first started teaching at the school I am at now, a teacher (really healthy, athletic, likable, strong, and active) had just been diagnosed with ALS. How awful it was to see this once very active man deteriorate over the next few years. It was heart breaking! His son was one of my students. His son went on to become a neurologist and is now my own doctor. I feel blessed, not only because I don't have ALS, but because I have a doctor who understands diseases which impact the nerves, like MS.

I cannot get the kindergarden teacher recently diagnosed out of my head. I cannot imagine the emotional pain she must be experiencing! I'd like to say something or do something for her, but I am at a complete loss.

Despite having a fairly nasty reaction to my Avonex injection today, I still feel so fortunate. At least there is medication for MS.