An Ever Changing Life

Denise Coleman Living With It I am a 57-year old woman who has had five back surgeries and has... Send Message Subscribe: Denise Coleman

Monday, August 24, 2009
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Imagine overcoming many challenges in life to obtain your college degree and begin and build your career to a level of success, only to have to give it all up at an early age because your body won’t work. Many of you reading this have done just this, as have I. And the changes in ...

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Anniemetalgirl
Monday, August 24, 2009 at 04:31 PM

Denise,

You wrote a very powerful, heart-felt article. I can invision you as an advocate. I was just appointed an advocate for the National Patient Advocate Foundation. I have not decided as of yet, how far I will go as an advocate. Besides being a person with chronic intractable pain, I am also the lone caregiver for a gentleman with Parkinson's. My days are full. However, I know I can help at some level.

I would like to talk to you privately, if you feel comfortable with that, about being an advocate.

Huggles,

Annie

re: Untitled Comment
Denise Coleman
Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 02:38 PM

Thank you for commenting on my Post and for sharing your interest in advocacy. I wrote a Post a few months ago about my volunteer work, including advocacy, with the Power Over Pain Action Network (POPAN) and I suggest that you read that if you haven't already to learn a little more about my work. Also go to the American Pain Foundation website, www.painfoundation.org and take the Advocacy Survey and review some of the information on that site. On the left hand side of the site you will see an icon to click for POPAN, which is the Foundation's grassroots advocacy network that I am a member of and it is an excellent source of information.

I would be happy to communicate with you about advocacy and I guess the best way to do that is for you to write me a private message, which I believe you can do by going to my home page and click on Message. Advocacy is very important, especially now when the federal and state governments and agencies such as the FDA are proposing policies that could limit or even ban some of the more effective medications for treating pain. There are many ways a person can advocate, however one thing to remember is that you need to take care of yourself so you have to pace yourself.

I look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes, Denise

Lemon trees
Marsrocks
Monday, August 24, 2009 at 04:57 PM

I wrote this wrong the first time and it wasn't saved. Let me try again.

I am amazed by your determination and strength. The saying about life giving us lemons doesn't express it well enough for you. You've been given a lemon grove. But you can't keep a good woman down. You've been through such hell yet there's this indominatible spirit that, like the phoenix, keeps you rising. Whether you make the lemonade or it just rains its sticky self on you, it's there. Something flattens you. And you get back up...on your scooter. You could be rolling down the streets of NY screaming obscenities at people in bitterness. But you're not. There's too much light and hope in you no matter how dark it feels. When I feel pinned in this, uh, blessed bed, for all but a few hours a day, I think of you. Your story helps me put one foot in front of the other and lead as meaningful of a life as I can. You know all about how pain can be a force for change and good. You've been doing that with your life. Even when you're a voice in the wilderness talking, with courage, of how damn hard it is. Even then, the light shows. Your story is your most powerful gift in an arsenal of powerful gifts. Use it. Tell it. We're out here and we need it.

re: Lemon trees
Denise Coleman
Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 02:57 PM

I don't know what to say, I am in tears from reading your comment to my Post. Thank you for all the wonderful things you say, although I don't deserve all the praise you bestow upon me or my writing. I have met so many strong people who live with pain and illness and I hope that through my writing I can demonstrate my support and appreciation for all they live with; I believe that those of us who share the experience of chronic pain are who can fully understand what it takes to get through a day.

Having said that I do appreciate that you enjoy my writing and that perhaps I can bring something positive into your life through my writing. I recognize my Blessings in life; especially that my MS and pain haven't disabled me faster and that I am still able to live independently. I decided to begin writing about my experiences because I was sure I wasn't meant to spend all these years just being in pain. Somewhere inside me I knew that I might be able to bring something positive to even a few people through my writing and your comments make me believe that perhaps I am right. I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear that you enjoy my Posts and feel that I should continue to write. I hope that I continue to live up to your expectations. I am working on a book right now and hope that one day it will be published. Thanks again. Denise