Koala,

I'll be keeping you and your hubby in my thoughts and prayers.

You know you can count on me!

that is indeed good news from your MS society.
that help will be invaluable to you.
con't prayers to you both.

Anne,
Sorry I missed your post...I hope and pray that your followup appt. gives you good news...
and prayers also for a quick surgery/recovery for your DH...I'll be interested in his recovery time, since both my knees are ready to be replaced.
I'm glad the MS Society is being so helpful...also glad that you're reaching out for help...
let us know how everything goes.
You know we'll all be thinkin' of ya'...

found this late as usual.

Good luck on your check-up. Sending up prayers you are A-OK.

Good wishes to you and your husband on his upcoming knee surgeries. I had both knees done at same time. While it was a bit**, I would reccm it to anyone whose MD feels they can handle it. Sure beats being down for rehab then doing it all over again.

Glad to hear your local society is helping you guys out. It must be very hard having to rely on outsiders for the first time. Hopefully they will help you in so many ways that they become like family.

Prayers for Koala - check
Prayers for Mr Koals- check
Prayers for both of them to get thru this tough time- double check!

Thought I already responded, but If I did not I am really sorry. I am keeping both of you in my prayers.

Just checking back in w/you Anne~ Hope you are doing OK. Please update us when you can on how Russell is doing, as well.

Thinking of you dear friend and continued prayers coming across the Big Pond to you both.

(((Anne & Russell))) my prayers are with you. I've been out of town and didn't see this until today. You deserve a break this year for sure. In August of 2007, I had corrective surgery on both feet (bunionectomy, bunionette-ectomy, splayed-feet repair with metal pins etc.) at once. My mom, who has since passed away, stayed with me for a month because Dh had to work. It was doubly difficult with the MS thrown into the mix. I could never have done it without her help. I'm very grateful to have been able to spend that time with her. I'll be thinking of you both . Please pm me if you want , I know how hard this all must be for you.

Thank you all once again!

I thought I'd let you know how things are going so far.

As I mentioned before, the MS Society have referred me onto all the support type people that I might need while DH is in hospital, and also during his recovery period.

Because I'd never had any services before, we first had to register DH as my primary carer, and yesterday I had a nice lady come to the house to get all the paperwork done, so she could set some of the support systems in motion. I believe that DH will now also get a small pension for being my carer, and although it's not a lot..... it all helps when there's not a lot coming into the house.

Now all the paperwork is done, we can now get carer respite services, which means that anything that DH does for me can now be provided by these people.

Today I also had an Occupational Therapist come to see me. I don't know if you call them by the same name in the USA, but this lady checked the house out, and is providing a few things like a toilet seat raiser with handles on it so I can get off the toilet alone. She's also made suggestions to make the house safe for both of us, like locking the castors on the bed so that neither of us will fall.

The lady who came today was also good enough to arrange all the hire things like crutches, etc, that hubby will need when he comes home after his surgery. I can't thank the MS Society enough, because arranging each of those things have been such a big help to us. It means that we won't have to search around for some-one else to provide his needs, and they'll all be here in the house before he even goes into hospital next week.

There will be some-one coming in on Wednesday to check on me, and they are prepared to do things like laundry, cleaning and shopping if I need them. They'll come twice a week until DH is back on his feet and coping well at home, no matter how long that takes!

I also have access to cheap transport, either by a volunteer driver transport service, or half price taxi cab fares. Every little bit helps.

That's all to tell you for now, but I did want to let you know how things are progressing, and to thank you one more time.

Wow, Anne....that's an invaluable service to you! I'm so glad they're responding and making things easier for you and DH. Goodness knows you deserve a break.

Please keep us informed of how things are going for you both.