Welcome to the Carnival of MS Bloggers, a monthly compendium of thoughts and experiences shared by those living with multiple sclerosis.
Special Announcement:
Our blogger friend Judy Mercado of Peace on the Journey has published her inspiring and expressive haikus and poems in her new book Peace on the Journey: Poems which is available in paperback and Kindle editions.
Editorial Reviews
“For those struggling with chronic illness, loss of a loved one, or any major life challenge, the Peace on the Journey poems affirm that one can still choose to smile and resolutely renew life. In facing hardship honestly but tempering it with hope, these healing poems light a path out of despair.”
—Dr. Joan Barice
“In deceptively simple seventeen-syllable nuggets, these poems convey a complexity of emotion and perspective that quite often transcends the limits of language. They are nuggets of shared humanity that find their mark squarely in the heart and soul. Sometimes in whispers, sometimes in shouts, Judith Mercado’s words resonate with wisdom and truth, and grace the reader with intimacy, honesty and understanding.”
—Marc Stecker, Wheelchair Kamikaze
Book Description
The poems explore the theme of renewal in the face of adversity. Influenced by the haiku form, this collection offers a poem a day
for a year, though one can easily start on any page and progress in any order. Peace on the Journey is enrolled in Amazon’s Matchbook program. This means that if you already purchased the print edition in the past (or purchase one now), the Kindle price is reduced by 50%. Ten percent of net book proceeds will be donated to the Myelin Repair Foundation.
May my poems illumine your journey.
~ Judy
by Andrea of MS Changed My Life
We had no idea what curve balls the MS was going to throw our way, but we had the
basics: avoid heat, overexertion, and stress. I had been teaching 2nd grade for 4 years, so I was well established at my school. I informed my principal of the situation when I returned from my maternity leave. I had asked her to not say anything to anyone else. From the beginning I just didn’t want people to see the disease when they looked at me. I wanted them to see me, not the MS. I don’t like for people to feel sorry for me or pity me. I never have. I handle what’s been given to me and move on with life. At any rate, I entered my 5th year of teaching that fall. I did tell some of my fellow teammates that if they see me stumbling through the halls, it was not because anyone had finally pushed me over the edge to cause me to drink at school.
That school year came and went without a hiccup. I regained the feeling in my legs about 8 weeks after the whole episode began. We’d done lots of reading about MS being passed on to children, and we found that our children would have a slightly higher chance of developing MS than “regular” children. Mine wasn’t a genetic issue. No one else in my family has it. I’m #4 of 6 kids, have 9 cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, but I was the “lucky” one. We felt that it would not be a reckless or careless decision to have another child. I’d had absolutely no issues after that 8 week numbness in 2004, and I’d had a wonderful first pregnancy and delivery – other than going into pre-term labor as a result of our first pug passing away in my arms in the car on our way to the emergency vet. We are crazy pug people; 4 pugs and 2 cats. Pretty awful experience losing our little buddy. Our son was born 3.5 weeks early, but he was 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was perfectly healthy. We agreed that it was time for another little one.
My husband felt that it was also time for him to do what he could to support the MS Society by participating in the Cox MS Atlanta cycling weekend by riding 100 miles over 2 days. He signed up and raised money for the MS Society. It was obviously a charity event, but leave it to my husband to still make sure he crossed the line first. Our son and I raced to the finish (from home) to greet him. He finished so early that we missed his actual crossing of the finish line, but we were there soon after. That’s my guy! Forever in my corner.
This concludes the 152nd edition of the Carnival. The next Carnival of MS Bloggers will be hosted here on March 6, 2014. Please remember to submit a post (via email) from your blog of which you are particularly proud, or which you simply want to share, by noon on Tuesday, October 1, 2013.
Thanks, Lisa! Stay safe from the snowstorm.
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