Revisiting ‘3443 Needles,’ Ireland Best Blog Post Award winner, 2018
In 2018, Ashville Media Group in Dublin, Ireland, organised the Ireland Blog Awards Competition. I was astonished to find out that '3443 Needles', a post I published on April 25th, 2018, won the Best Blog Post Award. The quick-witted article dealt with changing from daily disease-modifying injections to one weekly injection, and the positive impact of having to do so much less. A sincere thank you must be said once again, but I also have a request, which is to ask you to repost this in the hope of it reaching people who have since its publication been diagnosed or are awaiting diagnosis, and in the hope of it helping lift your spirit.
Time heals, perhaps even MS
As you move on in life, you will find that perhaps your diagnosis was something that needed to happen to see what is really important in life. It is not an expensive new car, clothes, jewelry. It’s health and acceptance, though flawed the best of times.
Winner Best Blog Post 2018 in the Ireland Blog Awards!
Like Roy Keane’s dog Triggs, I also ponder the undeniable finiteness of life and how best to get through it unscathed.
What happened when you weren’t looking!
We often become too focused on the serious moments in life, yet we can learn as much about the funnier side of life with a chronic illness, or from those that show us grace in defeat. I was therefore incredibly surprised to find out that my blog was among the 10 Best Blogs of 2018 as chosen by Everyday Health while also being awarded another Top 50 place on Feedspot’s Best MS Blogs of 2018. And, as the proverbial cherry on top of the cake, I am now a contributor to The Mighty. There’s a certain amount of pride and vindication when you realise that you haven’t given up on life despite those who would love nothing more than seeing you defeated. I cannot be any happier with friends and…
3443 Needles
After an hour and a chat with the counsellor, the MS nurse, the blood clinic and MS nurse again, there he was. My saviour. The one who would rule over thousands of future pinholes. He was no Napoleon, but I was fine with that.
The story in all of us
MS is a mere aspect, label or classification. My story is therefore not one of heroism or tragedy, satire or drama, cheap thrills or grandeur. Showing up for myself in my own life means taking responsibility for the good and the bad while also trying to achieve goals I set myself for 2018.
Multiple Sclerosis Ireland & Novartis Blog awards!
I believe it's fair to say so that the 'Living Like You' as well as the 'MS & Me' writers share the same gratitude. Being nominated by the public means you are owed a big thank you for not just having our back, but also for sharing our words with hundreds of people. Your voice - though often unheard - means that MS isn't a lonely illness, but a shared concern.
