Who Are The PWMS?
 

I have no idea who wrote this, or I would give them credit. Kinda says it all..huh?
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Who are the people with Multiple Sclerosis?

We are your parents, your children, your brothers and sisters; we are the person down the street; we are that lady or fellow who may walk a little 'funny' at the grocery store. We are the people that you "tsk, tsk" over because we might look "too good" to use handicapped parking.

We are the folks who may not be able to get out to the Church or toTemple every weekend; we are your peers; we are human beings. We are the face of Multiple Sclerosis. A face that is nearly every ethnicity; that comes from nearly every country, that does not discriminate by social standing, class, financial, educational background, language or religion.

We are both able to walk unassisted and use canes and walkers and wheelchairs; we jog and swim and partake in sports; we are house-bound, we use scooters; we need respirators. We are everything in between. We are visually impaired and we are not. We are at every level of physical ability.

Of course, we "look so good" while we're doing it. We hear that phrase every day of our lives. Sometimes it is meant as a compliment and sometimes it is meant to hurt or meant to shame us into doing something of which we may not be currently capable. We may be able to do that something tomorrow, though, or next week; Multiple
Sclerosis is like that. We are like that.

Some of us are hearing impaired; yet all of us occasionally have people talk louder to us. "HOW ARE YOU D-O-I-N-G?" they'll scream, speaking to us as though we were either hearing or intellectually impaired. "YOU LOOK SO G-O-O-D!!!!"

Of course we do. Thank you very much. We are, in fact, the very best looking people in the handicapped community. We have secret beauty pageants every year, to decide which of our number is the absolute best-looking. Billy Crystal emcees, as his character Fernando; "..and you look MAHVELOUS my dear; absolutely M-A-H-V-E-L-O-U-S..."

We are brave. We are fragile. We want to live, and we want to end it all. We look for support and we want to stand alone. We are Every person. We are the People with Multiple Sclerosis. We are People, Just Like You....

Sad but true, yet inspiring.

Virginia Sanchez

http://ginnysanchez.vox.com/library/...-an-oldie.html

It took me less than a minute to find out and give credit where it deserves to be. :)

Nice of you to do that for SallyC. It's good to have a resident Computer whiz.

By the way SallyC, its good to see you feeling a bit better. I always enjoy your posts.

Thanks Wannabe for finding that for me. You're a gem. We might keep you around.:D :D

Thanks BBS, I am feeling better and still on Paxil too.:rolleyes: How are you doing, Dear?

Pretty well. In a very minor flare today (mild L'Hermitte and leg buzzing).

I like the big paragraph you posted above :) I'm glad the Paxil is helping you out. What would we do without chemistry?

"Of course we do. Thank you very much. We are, in fact, the very best looking people in the handicapped community. We have secret beauty pageants every year, to decide which of our number is the absolute best-looking. Billy Crystal emcees, as his character Fernando; "..and you look MAHVELOUS my dear; absolutely M-A-H-V-E-L-O-U-S..."

We are brave. We are fragile. We want to live, and we want to end it all. We look for support and we want to stand alone. We are Every person. We are the People with Multiple Sclerosis. We are People, Just Like You...."

I laughed at this first part -- wryly, it's true, because although it's funny, it's also true. And then tears came to my eyes as I read the second part.... And I flashed back to just this morning, when I was lying on the floor and weeping with rage, because I knew I had to call Lisa for help, and I wanted to get myself up, I didn't want to need that help, I wanted to do it myself. The WC was a foot away, but it might as well have been a hundred miles. And just lately, I've caught myself thinking: I don't want to die. But I'm not sure I want to live this way.

I hope my avatar came through. That's me in my former life, riding Magic Hero at a horse show at Ox Ridge, in Darien CT. That was in 1990, the year before I was dxed.

Chris

Hi Chris, I love your Avatar...Beautiful and so graceful. That is probably the biggest loss for me too...The Art of Being Graceful..:( <sigh>

I am so sorry you found yourself ina helpless situation. I've been there at my weakest point.

We all know what you are dealing with. After all, "We Are The People With MS".

Welcome, so nice to have you here.:)

Hugs,

Thanks for posting that, Sally.

Hi Chris, and welcome to the board. What a great Avatar!

Yeah, it's a big change we go through, and a huge challenge sometimes.

((Chris)) I try to keep my faith that there's a reason for this, and that it will somehow benefit me and others in the long run. Easier said then done sometimes though.

Day by day.... :)

Cherie