• Lifestyle,  MS,  Multiple Sclerosis

    Christmas… rescheduled!

    24 December 2015 / No Comments

    Sometimes life just throws tantrums and curveballs because of your illness – missing out on Christmas with my nieces and uncle at the very last minute is just one of those moments. But then you realise that your family’s love, acceptance and support will keep you going long after the Christmas holidays, no matter what. Instead of Father Christmas giving you presents, they want him to take away your sorrow. They know that Christmas can’t be bought in a store, but instead is given in invisible mountains of love. They feel your anguish and wished they could take your physical pain from you. They root for you, uplift you and guide you. You feel empowered by them being there, even when divided by country borders. You know they believe you,…

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  • MS,  Multiple Sclerosis

    Giving Tuesday!

    30 November 2015 / No Comments

    We're busy planning something fun for #GivingTuesday! Keep an eye out to see what we're up to on 1st December! pic.twitter.com/32eSGCl7ne — MS Ireland (@MSIRELAND) November 26, 2015 Multiple Sclerosis Ireland – Please donate to support the outstanding services the only MS Care Centre in Ireland offers to people with MS, and keep its much-needed respite care going! Happy giving! ©Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2015. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’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 Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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  • Happy Thoughts,  Mental Health,  MS,  Multiple Sclerosis

    Balancing life and a chronic illness

    25 November 2015 / 12 Comments

    Reality. It’s what’s for breakfast. After some feeble attempts trying to write a few paragraphs the past few weeks, it was back to the drawing board each time. Not good enough. Already done this. Needs more research. Too tired. Not fit enough. You know moments like these, you sit down, determination almost physically squeezing ink out of your pen. Cup of coffee at the ready, you start and a few minutes later you have to hold on, waiting for energy to kick your bum to open up your half-closed eyes. Reality. Seamus Heaney once said “writing is a snapshot of consciousness”. I was lucky being semi-conscious this week. I could hardly make sense of myself during those few moments I tried to put pen to paper.

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  • Mental Health,  MS,  Multiple Sclerosis

    How (not to) be sick!

    8 November 2015 / No Comments

    That's me. I forget how to be sick. The fact that physically I am crumbling under a lot of neuropathic pain, can’t frown my forehead into cute wrinkles, have no feeling on the top of my scalp, have constant bees in my ears of tinnitus, stabbing facial pain and intense fatigue, is something I refuse to show anyone carrying a medical degree. It’s a survival instinct of sorts.

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