Mandy was in the throws of this first major MS battle on the day of her appointment with the neurologist. She arrived weak, hobbling like a woman twice her age into the doctor’s waiting room. Following the requisite flurry of forms designed to give the doctor some insight into her medical history, we found ourselves sitting in an examining room. The doctor entered soon enough and, after asking a few questions, proceeded with the tests. Poke, prod, stand up on tip-toes. Walk across the room. Test reflexes. On and on... until finally he decided that he wanted Mandy to get an MRI. This would be her first, but certainly not her last.

Weeks later, we headed back to learn the results of the MRI. Mandy was feeling better by then, the monster having run it’s course. Upon entering the exam room, we really did not know what to expect. We were not, however, prepared for what came next.

The neurologist entered with the MRI films in a large manilla envelope. He stood out in the hallway, flipped on these wall-mounted x-ray film light boards, and proceeded to literally throw the films, one by one, into the little metal slots designed to hold them tight against the board. He flipped them into the slots so fast that they were, honest to God, falling out of the holders and onto the floor. He didn’t look so much as five seconds at a single one of those films.

After a minute or two, he popped a few more films into their slots and, looking at us, asked if we could see the white spots scattered here and there throughout the films – meaning throughout Mandy’s brain. We both said that we could, then prepared for the worst. “These white spots are common with people who suffer from migraines,” as did Mandy for most of her life. Continued the doctor, “I’m nearly certain that Mandy does not have MS.” Since, by then, Mandy was feeling pretty good, he told us to go home and to call him if the symptoms ever return.

[Continued Next Post]