She
cried so uncontrollably upon hearing her diagnosis that her neurologist’s
office called me to pick her up rather than have her try to drive.
This PSA
by NMSS first run in 1994 is IMHO the best ad I have ever seen for MS. It portrays a year living with MS. Now multiply it by 28 and you get the idea.
Since
1989 ‘spousal caregiver’ has supplemented the label husband. Last year a
diagnosis of lung cancer was added to my labels.
Since
this could be my final MS Awareness month, I’m going to speak my mind.
Multiple Sclerosis comes down to ‘activities of daily living’ when you lose your
abilities for dressing, eating, ambulating, toileting, and hygiene you become
dependent. For the last several years Patti lives in a long term care facility.
She requires a team of assistance to complete any and all the activities of
daily living. MS cognitive symptoms including dementia have made piecemeal of
her brain, preventing her from even remembering I have lung cancer.
“Cruel
and unusual” punishment is prohibited by the Bill of Rights to the US
Constitution. Patti did nothing to warrant life imprisonment in her own
malfunctioning and declining body.
What
about the collateral damage of MS to family from my shortened life expectancy to our
daughter.
Since
Big Pharma found a new and profitable market in maintenance medications for some
people with milder Multiple Sclerosis there has been a tendency to sugar coat
MS. That coupled with the disappearance of those with severe MS from the
dialogue whether in social media or mainstream media, I worry that focusing on the cure is taking a back seat to the more
profitable maintenance medications.
Patrick Leer
Patrick Leer
Health Activist:
Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/
My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/
care facility
multiple sclerosis
caregiving
Well written Patrick. And sadly, I kind of understand and have the same worries. My thoughts are with you and Patti!
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Jennifer
This is something I've been saying for years -- there will be no reason for Big Pharma to find a cure as long as they are making mucho $$$$ with their expensive DMDs! I was once called out on this by another blogger who was actively involved in a study (for RRMS drug) and believed that pharmaceutical companies are doing a great deal to find a cure. I no longer follow that blog! I wish this awareness month would rattle a few cages in the Big Pharma world.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Muff
I remember seeing that commercial on AFN overseas in Wiesbaden. That psa creeped me out.
ReplyDelete