This year was very challenging on multiple levels.
First I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in April, which brought with it a lot of uncertainty and questioning, not mentioning the doctor visits and medications, things that have never been part of my routine before.
My father-in-law also passed away this year and my wife had to spend a lot of time away from home, all during a time when I wasn’t sure I could hold myself together.
So I’m incredibly grateful during these holidays for my wife and kids, the people I love the most, for their presence today and for their presence in my life overall. I’m also grateful that my mom is still doing fairly well for her age. And I miss my dad, in a good way. It’s odd to think this will be the third year he doesn’t call me on my birthday, although I can hear him in my mind and that makes me smile.
Despite the hurdles that I faced, I’m feeling really good as we’re ending the year.
For starters, my MS has not progressed since the beginning of the year, according to the latest MRI, which possibly means that the treatment I’m on is helping, or at least that the disease is stable. It’s a big relief for me to know I’m not facing an aggressive form of MS.
There was also a recent change in the medication I’m on to manage my MS symptoms. And the improvement is remarkable. With the previous one, I had brain fog, needed to sleep a lot, didn’t feel like myself. The new medication works better in controlling my symptoms, I’m lighthearted, and clearheaded. I feel great.
Some other things I don’t want to get into here also started finally trending in the right direction. All of it coming at just the right time with the holidays and me being on vacation until the new year. I’m happy to get that break.