normal
 

what is normal?

I think it is individual and dynamic. what is normal in one culture may be considered rude in another. what is normal for a 25 year old is not normal for the same person at the age of 70. what is normal for a trained athlete is not normal for a frail lady. what is normal for a healthy individual is no longer normal when you have MG. there are extreme situations in which totally abnormal behviour will be considered normal.

what is normal for me?

going to present the results of our collaborative research in an international conference. and I don't care if I need a wheel chair, respirator, my husband with me, as long as I can do it.

at first, I was very much bothered by the fact, that my contribution to this 8 year project has been gradually declining, but my collaborator said that she had no problem with me presenting our work, and that I have contributed enough, even if not as much as I wanted.

and yes, it's not an oral presentation, but a poster, because there was no way I could give a lecture in front of a large group of people, like I used to do before, but that is good enough.

when I asked my pulmonologist what he thought about it, he said that's great, as long as you have your respirator with you, and don't exceed your abilities too much, do what ever you wish. and I trust you that you know your limits.

for me normal, is being able to keep the core of what is important to me, and I don't really care how, and when any more.
and as I don't care, most people around me don't either.

it took me a very long time to understand that (way too long).

and to figure out what I think is really important and worth fighting for, and what is just....

alice

Alice,

Very good and full of feeling. You are right, normal is what we make it. We are not normal by others standards but then I never went by others standards but my own :)