voices never shared Multiple Sclerosis

Some mornings surfing through the news over a cup of coffee I am struck by the imbalance of Multiple Sclerosis awareness, at least to me, … even a recent comment to this blog raised this paradox in social media of what do we know about severe MS unless the caregiver speaks out.

Screaming from magazine racks in convenience stores and grocery store checkout aisles the world learned in late June that an old classic rocker’s son was recently diagnosed with MS and his Mom “won’t let my son die”.

Yet how many noticed a MS Survivor Celebrates 70th Birthday in the headlines of the Daily Local News of Chester County, Pennsylvania.

“For the past 47 years, Frederick Ray Jr. has been nothing but an inspiration to his family and friends. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1965, Ray celebrated his 70th birthday Sunday at the West Chester Senior Center, a testament to perseverance and triumph against all odds…”

I also can’t help but wonder if it’s because he like my wife is both in a wheelchair and a care facility that the milestone gets no mention by local MS organizations.

Then over on the left coast I read in the Sacramento Press of the closing run of a play, Voice of Good Hope in its Final Run about the life and times of US Congresswoman Barbara Jordan (1936-1996), who at the highest levels of power and riveting oratory on the National stage concealed her MS.

Jordan began to experience MS symptoms in 1973 …eventually requiring a wheelchair. She kept the state of her health out of the press so well that … President Bill Clinton stated that he wanted to nominate Jordan for the United States Supreme Court, but Jordan's health problems prevented him.

“Cruel physical decline” is how theatre critics describe the portrayal of Multiple Sclerosis.

So back to the original thought unless a caregiver, or playwright, speaks up what do we know about those with severe symptoms of MS? 

“…People writing songs that voices never share

And no one dared

Disturb the sound of silence …”

Sounds Of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel

Patrick Leer

BLOGS:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

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