Saturday, February 28, 2009

Family

Recently I have reconnected with two cousins I don't think I have seen since I was about 3 years old.
One of them I emailed from time to time and both of them have exchanged holiday cards for a few years.
We reconnected on Facebook. My cousin on the other side "friended me" and I finally got around to answering it. It's been alot of fun getting to know everybody again.
My family is so small and as many of you know, a bit dysfunctional.
I've realized in the past few years I can't or won't beg any family member to be a part of my life. I've been thru so much with my health and if they choose to ignore that, then so be it.

I have so many wonderful nurturing people in my life and they have replaced those that can't deal with my MS.
To quote myself and my shirt product line "I don't have cooties, I have MS" I am not contagious.

Last night as I was going to bed, my Blackberry indicated a message and although I was so tired I decided to check it.
It was a message that I had a donation to my MS Walk team. So, as tired as I was, I logged onto to our computer and found that my cousin and her husband had made a donation. I almost cried.
Thanks a bunch. you have no idea what that means to Mark and I.
It's not about the money but about the support. Something I can't seem to get from my immediate family and something I am often ashamed of.
I spoke to my sister the other day. I left her numerous messages pleading for her to return my call. I am being overwhelmed with collection calls for her and I just needed it to stop.
Sometimes it is hard to believe I came from the DNA as the rest of them.

My husband and I still joke I was swtiched at birth. I thank God everyday for his family. I wouldn't have made it this far without them, especially his mom.

After the events of this week, life reminds us how precious it is and short it is.

Thanks to all of you who have supported us and continue to support us. One of these days I will walk the MS Walk right beside my team. Mark my words !

Have a sunny day, no matter where you are !

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

Tell a friend !

Friday, February 27, 2009

Support Group Member Dies in Fire

Last night it was confirmed that the person who died in an apartment fire here in town was a member of my support group.

As the co-failitator of this group I am deeply saddened by this event. My co-facilitator emailed me last night and pointed out how ironic it was that I had brought the fire department to our group to teach them this very thing. How to get out in an emergency.

I am still so grateful to the Fond du Lac Fire Department who taught us so much that day. For me, who is extremely organized, even I learned alot that day. They answered so many point blank qestions we all had about our specific living conditions including mine.

There was a death of woman who lived in Pennsylvania that prompted my urge to meet with the fire department. It had a connection to our city ( without going to into to many details and
invading this other's family privacy). When I heard of this happening I immediately called the fire department and set up a meeting.

My ride for that day stood me up and left me standing on the sidewalk so I had to walk 6 blocks in March with my walker to the hospital for the meeting. I was completely exhausted but I was determined to get there despite the irresponsibility of my ride who never showed up or apologized for that matter.

When I got there I had an appointment with the local paper for an article they were doing on me and my MS. They took my picture and a picture of the support group. They must have also changed their idea for the article.
The picture of my support group was on the front page of the paper and it prompted calls from so many people with a disability and family members of people with disabilities thanking me for educating the fire department. My response then and now is still the same. They know about us. They are here to help us. But the street goes two ways and you have to educate them.

Please please please pick up the phone and tell your fire department, police department that someone in your home has a disability. They can sit down with you and offer suggestions on how to help yourself in an emergency. They are there to help you.
Please please please give someone a key to your home. Every second counts in an emergency.
Tell your neighbors you might need help in an emergency.
Remember we have MS. In a fire the heat of the fire will cause your body not to move properly, no matter how good of shape you are in.

My condolences go out to Chris's family and friends. My support group will go thru a grieving process as well, especially in this situation.

Have a great day everybody and please talk to yourfire department! Do it for me!

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Amazing Race' host tackles cross-country ride

Saw this article and wanted to pass it along. If Phil visits your town go out and support him. Thanks Phil for helping all of us who struggle with this disease !

"The Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan is getting ready for an amazing ride: a multitasking bicycle trip across America.
Keoghan said he's cycling cross-country to encourage people to pursue a healthy life. He also intends to spotlight the battle against multiple sclerosis, a cause he's supported for several years.
Keoghan will set off from Los Angeles on March 28 and end in New York on May 9 _ the day before the "Amazing Race" season finale airs on CBS, the network said Wednesday.
He plans to average 100 miles a day, and said he hopes people will join in as he passes through their area.
"I feel like where we're at in the economy, the bicycle is a pretty good solution to helping people's waistlines, wallets and the environment," Keoghan said by phone from Auckland during a visit to his native New Zealand.
"This is saying to people, look, it's time to make a choice in your life. We have way too much obesity and way too many people sitting back and not getting involved in life," he said.
The ride, sponsored by nutritional retailer GNC, also is intended to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Bike MS fundraising effort, with Keoghan attending rallies nationwide.
A member of Keoghan's family, a cousin, has the disease, a CBS spokesman said.
Keoghan's path will take him to more than 30 cities including Las Vegas; Denver; Lincoln, Neb.; Des Moines, Iowa; Chicago; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Columbus, Ohio; Pittsburgh; Washington; Baltimore; Philadelphia; and New York.

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

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___

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

A bad day with Multiple Sclerosis

Today I woke up feel the worst I have felt in a long time.

I feel like a truck has crashed thru my front door and run me over.

It has been a long time since I have had to deal with the infamous MS Fatigue and it has hit me really hard today.

This is the second time I have written this post becausethe first one didn't save properly.

I just lied on the bed with my legs up ( which always helps me) and put my healthytoes on so my feet and calveswill feel better. Healthytoes, if you haven't been to my website, aretoe stretchers and make my legs feel better after only 15 minutes. They are painful to put on ( which kind oftells you how bad of shape yourfeet really are in ) but the temporary pain far outweighs the results.

I do feel like I want to take a nap. I slept for 8 hours last night but I still feel tired.
The dogs are already napping so I maybe I will wake them up so they can join me in my bed. Sleeping in their bed always makes me sneeze. haha !

Have a great day everybody and I'll write more soon. As soon as I can put a sentence together
properly.

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Dina breaks the record !

Congratulations Dina.. We are sooo proud of you!

Dina, like myself, is an advocate for Tysabri.

Dina Mishev was in the midst of setting a world record when she made an unusual request: eight double cheeseburgers with Big Mac sauce from McDonald’s.Turns out, she only ate two.

But that was enough to fuel her through a remarkable feat.Mishev, of Jackson, set the world record for ascending the most vertical feet by a female skier in a day Sunday when she won the 24 Hours of Sunlight at Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs, Colo.Mishev, 34, skinned up 34,500 vertical feet in 25 hours, 13 minutes and 5 seconds by completing 23 laps.

The previous world record was 32,000 vertical feet.The ski race entailed skiing uphill and downhill as many times as possible in 24 hours (if a participant started a lap before the 24 hours was up, she was allowed to finish it). Mishev was still in disbelief Monday after returning to Jackson.“I don’t think it has set in yet,” Mishev said. “I was focused on this race for so long, and training for so long, it hasn’t even dawned on me that Valentine’s Day is this weekend, or spring is on the way, or biking season is near.
It’s been ruling my life for so long. I can have it back now.”Mishev has been an inspiration to many after her multiple sclerosis was diagnosed in 2006. She has been determined to remain extremely active.Mishev said she had been training for the 24 Hours of Sunlight for months by doing “incessant laps on Snow King.” She had trained so hard she actually entered the event with a little too much bravado.“I was overly confident,” she said. “It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. That’s why it hasn’t sunk in yet.
My goal was to do 25 laps. I didn’t reach what my goal really was.”But her feat is remarkable nonetheless. One of the more interesting moments of the race came during lap six, when Mishev asked her brother to make a run to McDonald’s to get her eight double cheeseburgers. She only ate two.“Around lap 18, I couldn’t eat solid food anymore,” she said. “I just went to some liquids for some calories.”Mishev began her final lap just before the 24-hour mark, and turned it into a celebration.
She was joined on the final lap by her friend, Kelly Biscombe, and a personal disc jockey.An employee at Sunlight Mountain Resort learned that one of Mishev’s favorite songs is Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.”
The employee then followed Mishev on the final lap, blaring the song from a boom box.“I turned the last lap into a party,” Mishev said.Mishev is hoping the significance of her feat will be realized as time passes.“It was so much fun,” she said. “I was training so long for it. Either it hasn’t sunk in yet, or it was anticlimactic. I think it was the former.”

Tysabri Journey

Yesterday was my Tysabri infusion. All went well but I definitely felt I needed my fix.

Usually there are other women who get their Tysabri the same time as I do but I think we all had a scheduling conflict. A nice man I have seen several times before was there so we chatted some. President Obama had a new conference on CNN so we watched that and those kinds of things always spark a lively conversation.
It was a good conversation this time with intelligent and educated poeple which is alway better for me. I can't discuss things with the equivalent of a lightbulb. It was a nice conversation
and discussion.

After my Tysabri, I had a few errands to run in the hospital so I set off. Mark gave me an hour so he could pick me up on his lunch.
First, I had to go to my neuro's office. My long term disablilty policy is always updating information. They are the biggest waste of paper. So I dropped the papers with his office, paid $6.00 to have them fill out the form and wrote a note to call me when it is done so I send all the info back together.
Then I went up a floor to my co-facilitator's office. I heard someone had dropped something off there for me. She was with patients so I left my card and I will call her later.
Then I stopped by physical therapy. They were somewhat surprised by the fact that I was walking and walking so well. I left them info on the MS Walk.I'm hoping they will have a team or sponsor Mark and I. It was good to see them. They are really positive and I think I shocked them by walking in.

Mark picked me up about 11:30 and we went to grab some lunch. Had a sub sandwich for lunch but couldn't eat the whole thing. Just too big.
He then dropped me off so I could get my nails and hair done. I arranged both appointments the same day on purpose. I got done early and just hung out. My friend owns it so it is a nice place to relax ( incase the pampering I had just endured wasn't enough) Her waiting area could be in my home.
My phone kept ringing off the hook yesterday so I apologize to people who called who I haven't got back to yet. I will later today.
I have an advocates conference call today from the Biogen Idec about Tysabri.

I didn't sleep very well last night and feel very crumpled up. I have so much to do so I will just make small steps forward and accomplish what I can. Mark is headed to Sacramento.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

The Cruise

So I really never talked about the cruise. The wind was really strong the first couple of days and tossed us around like a toy in the bathtub. There were alot and I do mean alot of people who got seasick.
As Mark and I are boaters, hence the name of my blog Navigating the journey of MS, I was okay. It was difficult to walk though. I saw a few people do face plants and they didn't have MS or were drunk.

When we arrived in Puerto Rico the wind was really blowing. Two friends sat me down on my walker and rolled me to the end of pier. The wind was just blowing me over. I could come up with a popeye joke. When we got to the end of the pier they were offered a tour and I just wanted to go shopping. They left and I was standing with the guard when my walker blew over from the wind. I think that was a sign so I turned around and headed back to the ship with the assistance of this wonderful guard. What a sweetie!

I went up to the buffett and met up with some of the MSF staff and a couple of other people. I swear to you I never laughed so hard in my life. Not a good thing for us MSer's with bladder problems.

We had some great sessions with different speakers and I leanred so much. I really enjoy sessions where they are fun and different.

The food was yummy and oh so plentiful. I discovered a coffee shop on the promenade and quickly made it my hangout. I always ran into someone I knew or someone who had our group name tag on so I always had someone to hang with. When I wanted to be alone I discovered the 4th floor deck lined with deck chairs, completely covered and so quiet. I felt like I was in heaven.

I put my iPod on and read the book I brought with me" TheLast Lecture". Now that is what I call a vacation. Escaping on a luxury cruise ship and being able to find that place to be by yourself.

I also discovered right inside the door on the 4 th floor a bar with those fruity drinks I was always craving.

Met some wonderful people and one crazy lunatic ( who happened to be my roomate until the cruise line felt bad for me and moved me. ) What a nut job! Back to the wonderful people.
I've been emailing people left and right since I got back and haven't had a chance to email everybody.
One night we had a pirate party (our group) and we had many get togethers. I shared my champagne and strawberries with a couple friends.

All in all I had a wonderful time and I am ready to go back. This time with my hubby.

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

By the way, it has been snowing all day. Make it go away ! I love the snow but I'm sick of it.
I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.

Friday, February 20, 2009

I'm finally getting caught up

So, I'm finally able to dig my way thru the office. I have been sitting on the floor for days making bracelets from the cruise. I figured when my hands started to hurt and I started droppingthings it would be easier to pick up if I was already on the floor.

I also had to do the mounds of laundry I brought home with me. Wouldn't it be great for a few extra bucks you could come home from a vacation with everything laundered and ready to put away? I would pay for this service.

It's also about 5 degrees outside and I am folding and putting away shorts which is pissing me off.
Mark came home last night with more laundry but I have a few days til he leaves again.
He asked me this morning as we were feeding the dogs if I wanted to go out to dinner tonight. Not cook? Who me, who loves to cook, who is so darn exhausted? I don't think I could have said yes fast enough.

I have been working on the MSWalk all day also. Not ony for my team but I am also on the committee. It seems, as it always does, that just a few of us actually do anything on the committee. The rest just take credit for other peoples work. Just how do you become that lazy and stupid that someone at some point isn't going to call you on it. I'm calling you on it oh lazy ones. Do some work !
I have been getting emails from so many of the people I met on the cruise. I can see some wonderful friendships forming. It just made my days to be with so many positive people. I often feel surrounded by so much negativity it is a welcome andrefreshing change.
Gotta go, I am going to continue to shovel my way thru the laundry. How can two people make all this stuff. Good grief !
I need a hug! Where are the dogs? And then I'm going to exercise !

Cathy
http://www.themsshoppe.com/

Tell a friend!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Attitude

This was emailed to me yesterday. Thought you might also enjoy it !

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church....a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past....we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.....I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you.......we are in charge of our Attitudes."
by
Charles Swindoll


Have a great day everybody ! It's 4 degrees here ! Can someone explain Global Warming to me?!

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

I miss the Sun

It is snowing again here in Wisconsin ( so what else is new). It was so nice here during the day and then all of sudden the storm came in. Because it was nice the temps were up to 40 so the snow is melting.
But it is still snowing and although they have predicted it will stop and in some cases they are reporting it has stopped ( I guess their homes don't have windows) I really don't believe any of them. When I don't see a snowflake I'll say it has stopped snowing.

I do miss the sun from last week. I don't miss the humidity. Naturally curly hair which I blow dry straight and extremely high humidity caused a poodle look to come back ( and no I don't mean a poodle skirt).

I have stepped up my exercise program and bought a stand for my stability ball ( which in my case was never stable) and a pump to keep it firmer. When the weather got cold it deflated and I felt like I'm sitting on the floor. Of course, we put the pump and it's attachment in a " safe" place and forgot where we put it. My guess Mark took it off when he was working on his bike.

I've been making bracelets and getting caught up on the business stuff so I really need some exercise to push me through the day. The alternative is all those wonderful Belgian Chocolates my hubby brought home on his last trip to Europe. They are sitting there for the most part. We usually share those together. They are so good. Some would say better than ... oh I'm not going there. Maybe that's why they are still sitting there. haha!
He's in Detroit dealing with EPA. He sounded frustrated on the phone this morning. He'll be back tomorrow weather permitting.

Have a great day everybody. Think sunshine !! It's only suppose to 15 degree's tomorrow.

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

MSF Cruise for a Cause Bracelet




I was very fortunate to be able to design a commemorative bracelet for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Cruise for a Cause I went on last week to the Caribbean.

I sent 250 order forms to their office around December so they could be put in the gift bags we all received. During the cruise I wore the bracelet and people kept stopping me to admire it and try it on.
I offered two different sizes with two different clasps.
It really is a pretty bracelet and perfect colors for a cruise. During the final days of the cruise many people gave me the completed order forms. So since I got back I have been making
bracelets. I premade them to a point without the clasps.
The fingers hurt so bad yesterday I should have just sat on the floor because that's where the beads ended up when I dropped the almost finshed project which meant I got to start from scratch.
So to anybody who ordered one, please be a little patient while my MS hands and fingers are working better. Yesterday I could hardly type to enter the orders in my system.
I am feeling better than yesterday so tomorrow can only be better than today. right?

To Susan, who called me while I was on the cruise. You gave me the wrong phone# ( which you caught) but when you called back you didn't leave the right one. My call log didn't work out of the country so please call me back.

Monday, February 16, 2009

My Valentine's Roses

So before the rumor starts. My husband did not join on the cruise becasue he attended probably the largest boat show in the industry because he works in the boat industry.
This show is always grueling for him and he has back to back meetings.

We had a hard time connecting this past week becasue of our schedules and I had signal problems with my phone.

When I arrived in my room I found beatiful red roses he had sent to me. He also sent champagne.

My brother in law, Gene and his wife, M''liz and family also sent me chamapage and chocolate covered strawberries. Oh yum!.

In case you haven't figured it out I love champagne. So thank you everybody for thinking of me.

So before the rumor mill starts thats why Mark didn't join me. Period.


Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

Tell a freind !

Back from the Wild Caribbean Cruise

I'm back home but the gosh darn room keeps swaying. I don't have my land legs back yet and
it is driving me crazy. I'm walking like I am drunk and I don't even have one of those umbrella
drinks in my hand! haha!

I met up with my hubby at the airport ( he went to the Miami Boat show on business). We had alot of time to kill in the airport and didn't get home til almost midnight.

I had a great time despite my pyscho roommate. I'll blog more about that later. She was a basket case.

If you haven't been on one of these cruises before they are wonderful. The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation does such a wonderful job with these trips and Royal Caribbean does a great accomdating our "special needs". And of course Alana at Fun Cruise and Travel ( who always has 14 millions things to do to take care of us) does a great job.

Every year we go to a different location. They haven't announced the next years location. I'm hoping for Hawaii. Probably never going to happen. I already put down a deposit for next year.

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

Thursday, February 12, 2009

MSF Cruise

I am on the MSF Cruise this week and having a great time.

Meeting alot of postive people with MS ( What a concept) and of course
meeting some whiners.
There have been a alot of great seminars and events. Getting alot of
exercise walking from one end of the ship to another.
I lost my purse the first day and it was returned untouched. Wow !
I have renewed faith in humanity.
I just met a couple that was from the same town in Pennsylvania my cousin
is from. What a small world ! I was adiring her purse she just bought in
town and she came back to me so she could give it to me. I almost cried.
Random acts of kindness is what her husband said. I was blown away and
am fighting back tears as I write this. So THANK YOU Kim and Lou.

I will try to blog again but there are no guarantees. If you left me a message
on my phone, I can't get a signal very well and will call you back when I'm back
in the snow of Wisconsin. Sorry for the delay.

Have a great day Everybody. Time to have a fruity drink with an umbrella !!

Cathy
http://www.themsshoppe.com/

Friday, February 6, 2009

Multiple Sclerosis on the Sea-Let the fun begin

I am so excited about this cruise. Tonight Mark and I are spending the night
at a hotel near the airport because my flight ( which he arranged) is at 6:00 am.

I should arrive in Miami about Noon and check into my next hotel until Sunday when
the cruise leaves. I will meet my roomy Saturday night ( just after I take my muscle relaxer)
so I should be in really good shape. I will probably wake up Sunday morning and ask
who she is and why is she in my room. My muscle relaxers make me kind of loopy.

Sunday we board the ship. I will try and keep blogging during the week but I am
really focused on relaxing so the thought of seeing a computer might make me seasick. haha!

This is the MSF Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Cruise for a Cause event. They do one every year and Mark and I went on the Alaska cruise two years ago.

This year Mark is going to the Miami boat show and I will be cruising alone. This is a huge step for me to be able to do this alone. I used to travel alone on business but not when I had MS or at least not with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. I am up for the challenge and I figure if I am not feeling well I will be with several hundred people who get it and will understand.
I can always order room service ( which is free).
I do plan to have a few drinks with umbrella's and I have had many requests to " have a cosmo for me".
Seeing I am not much of a drinker this should be interesting. Who knows, maybe I'll walk better with a few drinks. If not, I'll just wear my shirt from my store that says " I'm not drunk I have MS"

This truly will be be Navigating the journey of MS solo. Stay tuned...

Cathy
http://www.themsshoppe.com/

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Thursday, February 5, 2009

Angels Among US

Thanks Gail for emailing this to me this morning. I really needed it.
It plays with music " Angels among Us"


Angel Knocking at the Door
There came a frantic knock
At the doctor's office door,
A knock, more urgent than
he had ever heard before.
~~~~
"Come in, Come in,"
the impatient doctor said,
"Come in, Come in,
before you wake the dead."
~~
In walked a frightened little girl,
a child no more than nine,
It was plain for all to see,
she had troubles on her mind.
~~~
"Oh doctor, I beg you,
please come with me,
My mother is surely dying,
she's as sick as she can be."
~~~~
"I don't make house calls,
bring your mother here,"
"But she's too sick,
so you must come or she will die I fear."
~~~~
The doctor, touched by her devotion,
decided he would go,
She said he would be blessed,
more than he could know.
~~~~
She led him to her house
where her mother lay in bed,
Her mother was so very sick
she couldn't raise her head.
~~~~
But her eyes cried out for help
and help her the doctor did,
She would have died that very night
had it not been for her kid.
~~~~
The doctor got her fever down
and she lived through the night,
And morning brought the doctor signs,
that she would be all right.
~~~~
The doctor said he had to leave
but would return again by two,
And later he came back to check,
just like he said he'd do.
~~~~
The mother praised the doctor
for all the things he'd done,
He told her she would have died,
were it not for her little one.
~~~~
"How proud you must be
of your wonderful little girl,
It was her pleading that made me come,
she is really quite a pearl!
~~~~
"But doctor, my daughter died
over three years ago,
Is the picture on the wall
of the little girl you know?"
~~~~
The doctors legs went limp
for the picture on the wall,
Was the same little girl
for whom he'd made this call.
~~~~
The doctor stood motionless,
for quite a little while,
And then his solemn face,
was broken by his smile.
~~~~
He was thinking of that frantic knock
heard at his office door,
And of the beautiful little angel
that had walked across his floor.
~~~~
Share the Blessing of Heavenly Love!
If this E-mail meant nothing to you,
you may go ahead and delete it because
you will not receive bad luck
only a smaller, mis-shaped heart.
~~~~
But if you shared the same emotions as I,
then send it to all who will care.
And as you send it to each person,
your heart will grow bigger and stronger.
~~~~
I KNOW there are Angels among us


Have a great day Everybody

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com


Tell a Friend!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Claim your inner life with multiple sclerosis

Here are some ways to celebrate yourself.. something we never take time to do.

1.Write down three favortie traits about yourself

2. Dress in an outfit you love

3. Give yourself a mini foot massage

4. Write a postcard or letter to friend

5. Read some poetry

6. Read a novel ( in small sections if you have eye trouble)

Enjoy Today Everybody !

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

Tell a Friend !

Bioness - Treatment for Foot Drop in Multiple Sclerosis

Saw this article and couldn't resist sharing it with you. I purchased this product a short time ago and have noticed some real changes in my walking.

Foot drop, for anyone who doesn't know, is a symptom of multiple sclerosis, in which it is difficult to lift the front part of your foot. Sound like a minor problem?
Try walking or driving with foot drop. In fact, foot drop can lead to a huge decrease in quality of life and an increase in disability.
In multiple sclerosis, foot drop occurs because the message from the brain to "lift" doesn't make it all the way to the foot. The foot itself is just fine, just waiting for "orders".Bioness has designed and released a device that bypasses the brain.
By putting a sensor on a shoe, the device "knows" what the foot should be doing when someone is walking. The device then signals a second device, strapped to the calf, that has the ability to stimulate the nerves and cause the muscles in the calf to "operate" the foot.
I can't endorse the product outright, but this seems like a very plausible way of dealing with foot drop and I am encouraged that there are developments in the treatment of multiple sclerosis symptoms. Devices cost around $7,000 and right now I have no idea if insurance would cover that cost.

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

Monday, February 2, 2009

Multiple Sclerosis MS Walk


I recently sent out information to our family and friends about supporting us in the years

MS Walk.

We decided to have a team for our new company.

Our invite read as follows:

Team http://www.themsshoppe.com/ is doing our first MS Walk.
If you are local, please join our team and if you are not
able to walk it, hang with us. Dogs Welcome !!
Sunday, April 26, 2009

Please consider sponsoring us.
You can access our page online by going to
http://www.themsshoppe.com,/ go to my blog,
and in the top left corner is the link
to the NMSS site and our personal page.
Or if you prefer, you can mail us a check made
payable to NMSS.
We need your support for this very important event.



As most of you know, I am living proof of what
research and research dollars can do for someone with MS.
My wheelchair now sits in the living room
collecting dust and I skied for the first time in my life
and I did it standing.
We also realize that I may not be able to get out of bed
tomorrow, or walk down the stairs.
That is the nature of this hideous disease that stops over
400,000 people from moving !

Every Step Counts and
Every Dollar Makes A Difference.
Yours might be the dollar that finds the cure.


Cathy & Mark Riechers




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So the Steelers did it !

Dad would be so happy that his beloved Steelers won the Super Bowl.

It was kind of an emotional day watching the Super Bowl. Mark and I couldn't help but think of
Dad the entire day.
When he was alive, he had season tickets and knew the stats on every player.

It was a wild ride yesterday but I am glad they pulled it off. Dad was probably laughing
his ass off when they scored that last touchdown followed by the "I told you so's".

We miss you Dad and think of you often.

Cathy
www.TheMSShope.com

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Sunday, February 1, 2009

Snowmobiling for Multiple Sclerosis

Great Job Wisconsin Chapter of the National Multple Sclerosis Society !

LAKEWOOD - As the weather warms up some snowmobilers in the Northwoods are hitting the trails for a good cause.Colleen Kalt is the President and CEO of the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
She says they've hosted a snowmobile tour every winter for 26 years to raise money to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Kalt says that in order for the snowmobilers to be eligible to do this event and be part of all the festivities they have to raise money for the cause.
The snowmobilers on the tour this year are hoping to raise 250,000 dollars, which doesn't seem to tough with folks like Bob Schmidt from who's raised over 300,000 dollars on his own in the 19 years he's participated in this event. He raised about 14,000 this year alone. And it's not just the riders who are getting into the cause. Local snowmobile clubs are pitching in too.
The Red Arrow Snowmobile club in Townsend along with the Lakewood Paul Bunyan club put a big lunch together for the participants of the tour.
Kalt says Wisconsin has one of the highest incident rates of MS in the United States so the funds being raised for this tour are greatly appreciated.

Sounds like alot of fun!

Cathy
www.TheMSShoppe.com

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