The love of my life Tamiloo was reading the thread, “What have you lost to MS” to me and I could say amen to all that was lost. I do want to say that I do appreciate the lost thead because it also helped me to be more focused on the great things in life.

Right now, I want to talk about all that I have gained because of having MS.

I never would have met Tammy if I didn’t have MS. I would have been living in California close to Nestle’ headquarters working if I didn’t have MS.

Tammy is my lover and takes care of me fulltime. I never would have met her. I have a life with her that I never would have had. I couldn't have found a better person to spend forever with.

Yes, I lost what you could say everything because of MS but I have also found everything because of MS.

Because I have MS, I was able to be a religious volunteer for over 14 years at the Utah State Prison. I did two years on death row and the remainder in general population. Tammy did two years with me.

Because I have MS, I have found the great people at Common Ground who have made so many things accessible to me, such as skiing, hiking…even if I did go off the trail, also canoeing and many more. All I can say is, good times!!

There are hundreds of fantastic people I have met because I have MS…all of you who take care of Tammy for me I never would have had the great pleasure of meeting.

Tamiloo is helping me to start this thread but I will be speaking through her most of the time in responding to this thread…typing right now is not something that comes easily.

So what have you gained because you have MS??

What a wonderful thread. You are so lucky to have Tamiloo

There are quite a few things that I can think of but I am only going to name a few.

I have met some wonderful people in these forums and because of this I have met some lifelong friends outside the forum. Without MS I wouldn't have had this opportunity.

Because of MS I get to stop and smell the flowers because I can no longer work. If I didn't have MS, I would be going to work every morning at 7 am coming home at 7 pm. cooking doing laundry cleaning and never having time for my family.

Having MS gives me the opportunity to pick and choose what I am going to do on a particular day.

Seeing my family more and feeling closer to them and my friends.

I am a firm believer in "everything happens for a reason".

Thanks olhipie for starting such a nice thread

About 30 lbs.

I couldn't resist, Olhipie, sorry. This is a nice thread. I'll come back, after my nap, when I can be more presentable..

I was quite adicted to my job so I never took the time to smell the roses! Got plenty of time, wouldn't have it any other way.

It's nice to see you on!

I loved hearing about what you'd gained. It's hard to feel sorry for yourself when you are so blessed. I'm going to remember that for a long time.

What has MS given me:

Some peace. I'm a calmer person now. I work really hard at trying to maintain peace in my life.

I've picked up some new hobbies because I'm trying to focus on bringing more fun in my life.

I've realized that life is very short. Work is only there so I can have fun. I no longer give my life to my job and have started taking time for myself.

I've made some wonderful friends IRL and on the boards who really enrich my life.

I am much healthier now. I gave up smoking, I exercise, and I have a much better outlook on life. Too bad it took a sucky disease to make me appreciate how much my health really matters.

Good idea olhippie - thanks for starting this one.

Wow...so great, just think, guess I don't have to think, I let Tammy do that for me.

I never would have taken the time to go to movies, snuggled with the love of my life!

Hiya, Craig! Good to see you back in town!

Gains... itemized? Alphabetical, numerical, categorical, how do you want that? Do you have Stuffit Expander installed?

Who knows if it's all because of my MS? There have been so many opportunities to meet new people, see new things, build on old friendships, spend more time doing the little things, I'd scarcely know where to begin.

I suppose if nothing else, this disease has molded me into an individual with a much greater appreciation for people and events and a sense of urgency to make the lifetime dreams into realities and treasured memories. Plus, I have pics to prove it all and to remind me of it when I'm down.

For all it's worth, this is my life and I'm doing my best to live it out loud.

Well said Cindy and everyone. My answer is "Ditto".

When I was first dx'ed I saw it as a blessing. I was working full time and going to school at night. I was burning myself out.

MS has allowed me to take a step back and pick and choose what I want to focus on. It has taught me to say NO and not feel bad or guilty (most of the time).

Not working has brought me to crochet and sudoku puzzles, both which have kept me calm and distract me from my pain for a moment.

All of you have been the best "gain". I feel less alone and know that the most bizarre sx to me, is felt by someone else somewhere in this great big world. One day I hope to meet a whole bunch of you too.

Life is good!

I never would have learned how to knit if I hadnt gotten Optic Neuritis.

I learned how to do the knit stitch a day or two before my eye went all weird on me. Wasnt planning on keeping up with the knitting tho. But then my eye went wacky on me, and I decided to buy some knitting needles on my way to the opthalmologist to see what was wrong with my eye.

Casted on some yarn in the optho's waiting room, and knitted back and forth (making lots of mistakes) while waiting. When I went for my MRI the next day, I was seriously nervous (and drugged) and played around with the knitting needles while in the waiting room at the MRI place.

Knitted on that same project to keep myself calm for the next 4 months while waiting for a diagnosis.

Finished that project (a crappy looking scarf) a few months after I got diagnosed. My dad stole the scarf last fall because he liked it. (he's a sometimes knitter too and just wanted something to keep his face warm)

I'd already been a crocheter for more than 30yrs before I learned to knit...learned to crochet when I was 6.. While I was freaking out over possibly having MS, I didnt crochet. I was freaking and nothing in crochet would hold my interest. So I'm glad the knitting was there to keep me calm. I still prefer crochet over knitting, but I noticed that when I'm a bit freaked by the MS stuff, knitting distracts me better...probably because I'm still learning how to do it. (finally learned how to purl stitches last summer and things finally look like they do in the pictures)

I need to get back to a project that I abandoned while in the pre-MS Panic. I was crocheting a sweater...it's still laying in my closet, sans the sleeves. I'm actually tempted to knit the sleeves if I could figure out exactly how to make them.

What have I gained?

Real Friends!

-Vic