Hi Jake,

 

While I don't really know you and Mandy, I do have a sincere like of you guys.  I'm glad that you can contribute to important discussions surrounding Caregivers.  In my current situation (long story), I am both a Living with MS/RA patient and a Caregiver to my mom who is Living with Lupus/CREST syndrome and a Caregiver to me.  The ebb and flow of support and needs related to dealing with several chronic illnesses on our household keeps us humble and generous.  It is apparent in your writings that generosity and care is central in your home.  I look forward to reading more.  Thanks.

Nice blog, great idea. I am Diane J Standiford, real name, 50, DX MS 1990, but MRI suggests MS took off after a head trauma in 1967 when a pick up hit me, sending my head to the curb. (The head/skull scar marks exact spot of the 1990 fist-size lesion on MRI) Looking back, symptoms did begin shortly after. I was a kid from a "We don't get sick" Irish family, so life went on until at age 33 the symptoms couuld no longe be ignored. My MS course is the most common: RR to SPRR, silly/weird short-lived stuff to cane, to walker to wheelchair. I got my firsst big exacerbation during my first week on the job I would hold for 18 years, with the city of Seattle. It was a wild and wonderful time. I hve been very luckyy in life. I believe in destiny, fate, and forever. I have a parner of 28yrs. When we first got together we were both ok. (She had just recovered from a head-on 50mph car crash in Detroit, the later results of which wee could not have imagined.) Now we both are disabled. She still works part-time. I was her care-giver first, then she mine and now we are each others. I now have hired a care-giver to help when I am alone. Being a loner by nature, never BEING ALONE has been a big adjustment. I am originally from Indiana, some college, but no cigar. Partner a grad of NYU, film/acting. I started a blog last Aug., mostly to relieve my partner and friends from having to hear me ramble verbally, yep, I'm a verbal personality. (So what happened? Now I talk about what's happening in blogdom. Geez!) I embraced MS immediately. I am a person of action, what have I got, what do I do, let's get going,typical Aries (and no, I don't believe in that, (horoscopes) or many things that I can't explain. yet there they are. Such is life.) I am fascinated (out of need only) by your computer savvy, which I lack; starting a blog is probably one of the stupidest things I've ever done---no clue what I'm doing. Oh, and I hate computers. But here I am, now an addict. I look forward to following your journey with your wife, her MS, your marriage, and your new blog.  Don't leave me waiting here; lead me to your door.