At war with COVID-19. And MS!

It feels as if everyone has COVID-19 running within their veins.
It makes us battle with ourselves.
It makes us dig deep into our own minds.
It makes us seek answers where there are none.

In a similar fashion, it feels as if MS reigns in entire families.
You, the broken brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.
Your family, the tragedy of not being able to hand you its cure.
MS rents oversized spaces in their minds.
Seeks answers not even I, the legitimate owner of the illness, have.
Wonders how deep any family must dig to find out how much more they can take.

Does an incurable, neurodegenerative illness make people with MS any different at their core?
What do they really feel about the uncertainty of their illness?
The chronic neuropathic pain?
The cancelling of events time after time?
Did the family notice something that could have stopped it?
How do they stop it from needing any oxygen?
What can they do now to make life any better?

But families already know the answers.
They already know that you are a fighter.
They already know that you are stronger than MS.
Stronger than COVID-19.
That no matter what, life goes on, warts and all.
That the answer is this: being negative takes a hell of a lot more energy than being positive.

And you, my family, I thank you for all you do, year after year, relapse after relapse. You are deeply loved for staying instead of walking away.

My friends, you are an inspiration for continuing to understand why I had to cancel an event at the last minute. And for the fight, trying to make each day well lived.

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

2018 Winner Best Blog Post with ‘3443 Needles’, Blog Awards Ireland, Ashville Media Group, Dublin, Ireland
◾ Everyday Health: Top 10 MS Blogs to Follow in 2020
◾ Feedspot: Top 50 MS Blogs to follow in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
◾ MyTherapy: Multiple Sclerosis Blogs: 10 of the Best in 2019
◾ Everyday Health: Top 10 MS Blog of 2018
◾ MyTherapy: Best MS Blog for Simplicity 2018
◾ Ireland Blog Awards: Finalist 2014, 2015, 2017 (Awards competition discontinued in 2018)

© Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and irelandms.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.