I don't know. Jim's been through some pretty serious stuff the past 7 years and in all reality could have died. But his death would not have been from ms, it was from incompetent nursing. He's got skin issues, in a wheelchair and has a urostomy. Last time we asked we were told as long as he stays healthy and sees his doctor he should live a normal long life.

Now, don't get me wrong. His bladder issues are related to ms but had they been on top of that he wouldn't have went through kidney failure and sepsis. That's the hard core truth.

When he was dx'd back in 1988 we were told he could die from ms even though that was a low percentage. We were told he probably wouldn't live past 50. We were recently told by a doctor that he never sees anyone in such good shape as Jim is in considering he's had ms for 22 years. To us, we could be killed by a mac truck or get cancer before the ms takes him down. Guess we're optimistic after he faced death once already.

This is all the main reason when newly diagnosed people ask here, shouldd I tell anyone. I firmly believe in educating the public about MS. I'll mention it in the grocery line or anywhere just so people know that MS doesn't necessarily have to make a person bed ridden and loony. Of course as an RN that was my number one passion, educating fellow nurses or aides and students, patients and their family members.