[KittyLady]

I was visiting my other MS community and someone mentioned the Sharon Osbourne cover of people (I think it was people) and stated she was very upset about it. At least 25 other people were saying the Osbournes are stupid for thinking Jack's gonna die, that they are ignorant people, and what kind of an example are they giving newly dx people, that MS is not a death sentence and how stupid they are for thinking that, etc etc. My mind was whirling with anger at their comments. I'll bet not one of those people reacted well when they got their dx. I tell you, when I was dx 20yrs ago, I sure thought it was a death sentence. For those who know nothing about MS, its a scarey thing and natural instinct is to think its a death sentence. Instead of attacking the family, I thought it would've been more appropriate for folks to talk about educating themselves about the disease. With education comes understanding. I just cannot understand all the hate in some of these MS communities

[ewizabeth]

I was afraid I would die too, at first, and if Sharon Osbourne didn't know the details about MS she might have felt the same way about her son. There are extremely rare cases that result in fairly rapid death. My bet is that's what she read and she was terrified. The people criticizing her are being unfair. If my son had MS I'd be terrified too until I was relieved that he would be treatable and hopefully have a non-aggressive disease course.

[Sparky10]

Hopefully the family will educate themselves. Maybe some day Sharon will embarrassed at that headline. Not wanting her son to die is a good, motherly response but not appropriate for the diagnosis of MS.

[KittyLady]

Originally Posted by Sparky10

Hopefully the family will educate themselves. Maybe some day Sharon will embarrassed at that headline. Not wanting her son to die is a good, motherly response but not appropriate for the diagnosis of MS.

Well, Sparky, if you knew nothing about MS, I dont see how its not an appropriate response. I think after the initial shock wears off, and education obtained, reactions change. I really think that if there was more MS awareness out there, all newbies would have a much better reaction. But until that happens, reactions like this, I am afraid, are going to be the norm.

[Sparky10]

Guess that didn't come out right, KittyLady. I'm trying to think of how to rephrase it into what I meant and it's getting too complicated!

My apologies.

[Kitty]

I'm trying to think back to those early days when I didn't know what was wrong.....just knew there was something going on that shouldn't be. It was scary.

Too bad they're choosing to be judgmental rather than understanding. That's definitely not the right attitude and I feel sorry for those folks who reacted so harshly.

Sharon Osborne might have verbalized her fears......and we all have them and probably all of us have thought about death at some point during our journey with MS. When something like this happens to you it's one thing but when it happens to one of your children it's a totally different ballgame!

If someone in the media heard this then of course they were off and running with it. That's just the media. Anything that produces "drama" and anything that will sell.

Wish those members could channel their anger and distaste in a more productive way and try to educate folks about MS instead of just criticizing the way another reacts to their diagnosis.

[Dejibo]

I knew nothing or less than nothing about MS. I thought in 3 years I would be in a chair, and dh wiping my bottom for me. then 10 years dead. Exactly what went thru my head.

As I become more educated about the disease, and got out in the world of MS I knew better, and educated others about it.

Never have a battle of wits with an unarmed man. Let them have their anger. it sounds like they dont get much excitement in their lives and this gave them something to be cranked up about.

[4-eyes]

And in reality, the person Jack was HAS died. Once you receive a big diagnosis, you are never the same. How one is able to assimilate that news and the symptoms that come with it are dependent on numerous factors. Still, it is a death...the death of the "old you." In the throes of emotion, it's hard to process that and the emotional becomes physical and vice versa.

[Snoopy]

I am someone who really doesn't care about what is said by celebraties nor do I care about what they do or don't do.

As far as MS: Some DO die as a result and/or complications of this disease.

I knew nothing about MS when I was diagnosed. I had a very close family member tell me I would not live very long...how nice of them to tell me By the way, the information was relayed to the family member by another family member who was a nurse.

[SallyC]

As me dear ole Mom, used to say, "We shouldn't expect too much from those to whom God gave so little".