Peggy - and everyone else who's contributed to this thread - I hope you all don't mind but I have a big speech myself coming up this week and I'd love to use some of your words and descriptions too!

You've all expressed your thoughts and feelings so well that it would be a shame if I didn't share them with others. A lot of you have years of experience with this disease that others truly need to hear and be exposed to. I hope that's okay.

With much respect and admiration to all...