30 Things about My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
I was sent this list after National Invisible Illness Week ended and asked if I wanted to write about it either way, so here are my answers: 1. The illness I live with is: Multiple sclerosis, the house guest that ends up on your doorstep, invites himself in and never leaves again. 2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: I was diagnosed in 2005, three months before my 32nd birthday
MS News: October 2013
Childhood Stress Not a Likely Trigger for MS Stressful life events in childhood did not appear to increase the subsequent risk for multiple sclerosis (MS), researchers said. In large Danish cohort study, children who experienced stressful life events had a weak 1.11-fold risk (95% CI 1.02-1.20) of later developing MS compared with unexposed children, according to Nete Munk Nielsen, MD, PhD, from Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, and colleagues.
11 years!
There aren’t many things in my life that have outnumbered my years in Ireland as I celebrate my 11th anniversary of living in Ireland today. Once again I had to pinch my arm, making sure that I woke up in Clonsilla, Ireland instead of Belgium. Eleven years indeed. Dreams do come true if you want it badly, if you work at it and if you don’t lose focus. Eleven years. Eleven. Eleven. Yes, Billie, eleven! Love for family and friends obviously outnumbered all the years living in Ireland. Likewise for pets come and gone, as well as my addiction to books, libraries, history and all things Irish.
My brother
A small, black leather wallet. Used, worn, and carrying the scent of the jeans my brother used to wear. A plectrum faded from the many songs he played on his bass guitar. Memories. Too many to fill my mind at once. Love. Too deep to ever forget he was my brother, my only sibling.
20 things you didn’t (necessarily) know yet
While browsing through the weekend newspapers yesterday, I came across a nice list of questions. I like lists. And I like questions. A female attribute? No doubt. Just for the fun of it, here we go! The book that changed my life: Ulysses by James Joyce, no doubt about it! The quote that keeps me sane: I’m a huge quote lover, so it’s hard deciding but I will use Friedrich Nietzsche once more: “That which does not kill us makes us stronger”
Slowing down
A friend sent me this picture this evening as a reminder that I need to take a step back from writing, reading, advocating and generally helping others so I can “get better” again. We all know people with MS do not “get better” but I understood his reasoning… I need to sleep more, relax more and stop running around like a crazy chick (also his words, not mine :)) It has been a mad few months really. Stepping up my writing for the Ireland Blog Awards (being nominated and then shortlisted has finally started sinking in), going away for the MS National Day in Galway (stress about public speaking!), starting a writing course (not done a dicky-bird yet!), having to travel abroad because of the passing away of my uncle,…
Disability rights in Ireland
October 16th, 2013 is Blog Action Day, dedicated to human rights. Bloggers in 126 countries are writing about things that matter, like education for everyone, healthcare for each and every person on this planet and many, many more human right subjects. After yesterday’s announcement of Budget 2014 by the Irish government, I clearly see what I need and want to address with my post for Blog Action Day 2013.