Multiple Sclerosis

I'm sure all of us married folks have heard the first year is always the hardest. I do believe this is true but probably not much harder than subsequent years. For Brian and I we hit two of the biggest hurdles a new married couple shouldn't have to face for years, if ever.

For those who know the recent "Lemon Drop" moment - imagine all that love times about 400. Brian planned the most amazing proposal, some girls night I'll share the details. This night kicked off an amazing engagement and wedding ceremony. We were surrounded by love; you could feel it from the moment you stepped through the doors. May 1, 1999 ... we remember my grandmother (who has sinced passed) who's health was failing. We remember Brian's most amazing and loving grandfather; this outting was his last, little did we know at the time. We were blessed to have so many loved ones share this amazingly special day.

We kicked off our married life by cruising through the Carribean Islands. We returned to find Brian's grandfather's health worsening and by mid-July he had passed. "Pa" ... selfishly, I did not have nearly enough time getting know such a wonderful man. The honorable man who taught Brian how to have fun with life; to always see the world with a glass half-full (doesn't matter what liquid is in the glass) no matter the circustances. Pa had so much light, love, and an amazing sense of humor. Anyone who knows Brian knows where his fun, loving, always joking personality comes from. The passing of Pa was almost insurmountable for Brian. Helping to get his grandmother settled in her new living arrangements and supporting her as best he could while she figured out what life was now going to be like kept him occupied. Can you imagine your partner of 60 years gone and moving forward 'cuz as we all know the world doesn't stop ... even if you beg and plead? An unimaginable time for a newly wed couple but not the worst of what our first year would bring to our plates.

December 1, 1999 ... Brian was officially diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). The strange tingling and numbness he felt while sitting with his grandfather turned out not to be a pinched nerve but rather an incurable and debilitating neurological disease. President's Day weekend in February of 2000 Brian started his daily injection of Copaxone. Brian's committment to this daily routine is what has kept MS at bay. The leisons on his brain and spinal cord have not increased during the past 8-yrs; God bless! This and the incredible support from his neurologist. Dr. Dunn is truly the most respected, and in my opinion genius, neurologist in the Northwest. Brian looks forward to his doctor visits because of the strong relationship they have created. Brian is, metaphorically speaking, lifted up mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally every time they visit. It is so powerful to be part of and witness such enlightenment as Brian continues his fight with MS.

As mentioned above, Dr. Dunn is a genius ... this was proven to us when he said he was leaving his practice in Kirkland to become the head of the MS research and a faculty position with Stanford University. Brian and I will now be flying to CA annually for our visit with Dr. Dunn.

Thus began our life with MS ... as noted in a previous blog, I am adopted. This is, in my opionion, a blessing and a curse. I know next to nothing about my health background except that my paternal grandfather had MS. So this incurable disease is in my genes as well. So why did we choose to have kids? I'll save that for another blog entry ...

Thanks for reading,

Nick