"Facing challenges head on"

Posted by David Ling 
 
Guest Speaker Maree Thomson is pictured here with PP John Mackey at our August 18 meeting.
MS said Maree means Multiple Sclerosis and today it also means Maree's Story. We heard a story of courage and determination.
Many questions about Multiple Sclerosis can only be answered with "we don't know why".
The MS story is about three specific types which Maree told us about. This description is taken from the Mayo Clinic website.
  • Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). RRMS is characterized by relapse (attacks of symptom flare-ups) followed by remission (periods of recovery). Symptoms may vary from mild to severe, and relapses and remissions may last for days or months. More than 80 percent of people who have MS begin with relapsing-remitting cycles.
  • Secondary-progressive MS (SPMS). SPMS often develops in people who have relapsing-remitting MS. In SPMS, relapses and partial recoveries occur, but the disability doesn't fade away between cycles. Instead, it progressively worsens until a steady progression of disability replaces the cycles of attacks.
  • Primary-progressive MS (PPMS). PPMS progresses slowly and steadily from its onset. There are no periods of remission and symptoms generally do not decrease in intensity. About 15 percent of people who have MS have PPMS.
Maree Thomson, MS Ambassador encourages people to "get on with whatever life hands you". Her story personifies her comments such as:
  • Life is like a curved ball. You get thrown it and you choose which way to run.
  • Developing a sense of humour gets you through.
  • Life changes you down the road.
  • Don't be ashamed to ask for and accept help.
  • Use avalailable tools.
  • Fight the impact, not the fact.
  • "Take a long hard look at your life and make the most of it".

Everyone hearing how Maree has handled her "curved ball" had to be impressed with her courage and determination and inspired to make the most our of life.