Today is a reward, 5 1/2 months post surgery
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 4:41 pm
I am 5 1/2 months post surgery for CCSVI. It was winter when I was treated. I can take hot showers and have done many things which would say I do not suffer from that dreaded MS heat intollerance but, I just had to wait for a summer day to prove it. Today was that day.
I just have to share this.
It was 90 degrees today and my family headed to the US National Whitewater Center. I had never been before today because of my MS. We went on a guided kayak tour. I had a 2 person kayak and my 10 year old son sat in front. We paddled in full sun for 2 hours. It was hard.....but I did it! Then we rented bikes and rode a trail. I have not been on a bike in a really long time.....and I did it! Then we went to the "climb to zip" course. I raced my 10 year old 35 feet up a climbing a pole with footholds like those on a climbing wall.....and I won! When my son and I were hooked up to the zip line which would take us to the ground, I knew this was my reward for beating MS. It was a little scary to fall from that line, but I felt like it was a new beginning for me and my family. My boys really knew they had a new Mom. My husband was going on and on about how I would NEVER have been able to do any of this before treatment. He had a big grin on his face.
As we stopped to grab some cold drinks a young woman passed me having a lot of difficulty walking. She had crutches on her arms and her boyfriend was helping her to the elevator. She said to him as she passed me, "my foot drop is really bad" and she could barely shuffle her feet. At that moment I knew how lucky I was. I wanted to grab her and tell her all about CCSVI, but didn't. I really hope she knows about this, and I really hope everyone with MS has the opportunity to be tested and treated.
Thanks for letting me share my amazing day. Thanks to TIMS and to some amazing and smart people here for this miracle. Because I have been so blessed, I will continue to advocate for CCSVI and all people with MS.
Rhonda
I just have to share this.
It was 90 degrees today and my family headed to the US National Whitewater Center. I had never been before today because of my MS. We went on a guided kayak tour. I had a 2 person kayak and my 10 year old son sat in front. We paddled in full sun for 2 hours. It was hard.....but I did it! Then we rented bikes and rode a trail. I have not been on a bike in a really long time.....and I did it! Then we went to the "climb to zip" course. I raced my 10 year old 35 feet up a climbing a pole with footholds like those on a climbing wall.....and I won! When my son and I were hooked up to the zip line which would take us to the ground, I knew this was my reward for beating MS. It was a little scary to fall from that line, but I felt like it was a new beginning for me and my family. My boys really knew they had a new Mom. My husband was going on and on about how I would NEVER have been able to do any of this before treatment. He had a big grin on his face.
As we stopped to grab some cold drinks a young woman passed me having a lot of difficulty walking. She had crutches on her arms and her boyfriend was helping her to the elevator. She said to him as she passed me, "my foot drop is really bad" and she could barely shuffle her feet. At that moment I knew how lucky I was. I wanted to grab her and tell her all about CCSVI, but didn't. I really hope she knows about this, and I really hope everyone with MS has the opportunity to be tested and treated.
Thanks for letting me share my amazing day. Thanks to TIMS and to some amazing and smart people here for this miracle. Because I have been so blessed, I will continue to advocate for CCSVI and all people with MS.
Rhonda