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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-05-22, Page 22On with life May is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Joyce Johnston of RR2, Bluevale, since her diagnosis several years ago has been actively doing her part to help raise awareness about the disease and educate people. Misconceptions such as MS means life is over are things she works to clarify through public relations and her daily life. (Bonnie Gropp photo ) cdliWN4 ‘^i0 %"4 %AO b k 'Baskt 0- Lee's Service Centre C C C C C C C. 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 • Repairs to all makes & models of Cars & Trucks • Air Conditioning e. • Welding Located at 348 Dinsley St. Blyth 523-4343 (Formerly Hamm's Car Sales) Owned & operated by Chris Lee in" e1/4" nin Pv,‘ Pvg Pv,k ek" nn ow." P..." ,A•4.0y;i: r4,04.**Ato.:, PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2002. Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month Woman meets MS challenges head on By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor Joyce Johnston lives life to the fullest. The 38-year-old is a mother of two who finds pleasure in time with fam- ily, who helps her husband, Paul, with their cash crop operation, who assists a family member with a busi- ness during the summer months, who is a busy volunteer and 4-H leader. Who just happens to have multiple sclerosis. "There is a lot of misunderstand- ing about this disease," says Johnston. "People think if you have it you're debilitated, in &wheelchair._ I've been determined to not let it take over my life." The RR2, Bluevale woman had no notion five years ago that her life was going to change. Employed in the kitchen of Wingham hospital, Johnston says she started noticing a weakness in her left side. There was also a pain in her back, which she thought at the time must be a pinched nerve. It wasn't until she began dragging her left foot that Johnston became alarmed, however. "I thought then, that I'd better get to a doctor." Her family physician, Dr. Barb Matthews in Listowel, whom Johnston says has been "amazing" sent her the next day to a neurolo- gist. "That's when I first started get- ting worried." As it turned out, she had every rea- son to be. The specialist gave her three possibilities, a stroke, a tumour, or MS. As her mother has MS, the doctor leaned towards that diagnosis. Though MS is not direct- ly inherited, there is a genetic sus- ceptibility. "They think there is some kind of trigger. That's the problem with MS because they don't know the cause, so it's hard to fine a cure," she says. MS is also difficult to diagnose because early symptoms tend to come and go. Also there are other medical conditions and central nerv- ous system disorders which display the same symptoms. No single test will definitely confirm or rule out MS. Johnston got in for an MR I h two weeks, something "basically unheard of." The exam showed lesions on the brain which indicated MS. Add to that her family history and the diagnosis was made. Given her two other options, Johnston says she felt a "certain amount of relief. There was shock, of course, I cried for a couple of days, but then I thought this doesn't have to be the end of my life." . Something she feels has helped with her spirited determination to not let the disease win came the summer after her diagnosis when she wa4 asked to be part of a clinical trial for a new drug. "I thought, if this was some way I could help, then I was going to do it." Johnston credits Copaxone, which she has taken for five years with helping her manage MS. The drug has been shown to lessen the severi- ty of attacks and the time between attacks by 30 per cent. "That doesn't sound like much, but when you con- sider 10 years ago they didn't have anything to offer us it's significant." There are two types of MS. One is progressive, a steady deterioration. Johnston's is called relapsing remit- ting. "You have attacks, a flare-up of symptoms then they go away, though they sometimes leave you with residual symptoms." This happened to her last summer. One of the symptoms of MS is _a sen- sitivity to heat. "This can be areal problem," says Johnston, explaining the effect a spell of humidity last summer had. Walking across the soccer field at her son's game, Johnston says she felt so tired she was certain she wasn't going to make it. "I have never been that tired before." The next morning, paralyzed on her left side, she was unable to get out of bed. "It came on so quickly and I ended up in a wheelchair for a month. I needed help with every- thing," says Johnston, adding that the remarkable support of her neigh- bours, friends and family, particular- ly her husband and children, Jill, now 13, and Thomas, 10, helped her through it. "It was a wake-up call, though that what I was dealing with is real, something we have to live with." There was fear of course that the situation would not improve, but Johnston credits Copaxone with helping her rebound. "I went from a wheelchair to a walker, then a cane and now nothing. I give myself an injection every day and I have to believe that this has helped me, oth- erwise I'm taking it in vain." The attack left Johnston, however, with lingering left side weakness, increased fatigue and has limited her fine motor skills. She also knows now that she must pace herself. Daily physiotherapy helps with the muscle spasms and she avoids heat, "I don't take things for granted. Last summer made us aware of how precious things are and how much we do take things for granted." It didn't take Johnston long to rec- ognize one thing she wasn't taking for granted. "I didn't work long after the diagnosis because I was tired, but also my family was my priority and I wanted to do things with them." Her courage and determination make Johnston an ideal candidate for the Work she does with the Canadian MS Network, which is "for people with MS,by people with MS." Johnston was approached by them last summer and in addition to rais- ing awareness about MS, she also volunteers on Saturdays with the Network's toll-free phone line. "We don't give out medical advice but it just gives the callers a chance to talk to someone who knows what they're feeling." Particularly for MS suffer- ers in isolated areas the phone line is a way for them to know someone who understands what they're going through, says Johnston. She is also willing to share her story in the hope that it will educate and help. "People are interested in what's happening to me. By learning about it, it makes people more accepting." Tohnston has brought that open- ness into her family as well. Since being told about MS, her husband's support has been amazing she says as have her children. "I made the kids aware from the beginning. This is a part of my life. And I can't believe how compassionate they have been." Having gone almost a whole year without any new symptoms, Johnston remains firm in her belief that MS need not take complete con- trol. "My mother was in her 60s before she was diagnosed. Now 72 her MS is progressive. But she walks with a walker, and I'll consider myself lucky to be like her when I'm that age." For now, says Johnston, "I'm just living life. Hopefully to the fullest:" 50th Wedding Anniversary The family of George and Fannie Somers invites friends and rela- tives to a Come & Go Tea to celebrate their 50th Anniversary on Saturday, May 25th from 2-4 p.m. at the Brussels Presbyterian Church Best Wishes Only Please HERB & MILDRED TRAVISS Married 60 Years on May 23, 2002 WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!! WHAT AN EXAMPLE TO US ALL!! ALL OUR LOVE... BRIAN & WILMA TRAVISS AND FAMILY KEN & GAIL MOFFETT AND FAMILY 4>" Awfie INFORMATION ABOUT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS • MS is believed to be an autoimmune disease. In this, the body's immune system attacks myelin (the coating around the nerves), causing inflamma- tion to the nerves and scarring. When a message then goes from the brain to the hand, for example, it hits the scarring and the process is interrupted. •MS most often affects young adults between the ages of 20 and 40. • For seasons unknown 73 per cent of people suffering from MS are women • There are 50,000 Canadians suffering from MS. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. • The MS Society is involved in fundraising for research and equipment. The number is 1-800-268-7582 • The number for the Canadian MS Network, which offers support to MS sufferers is 1-877-714-2469 • The Shared Solutions programs is a field of professionals, such as physi- cians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and counsellors an be called for med- ical information. The number is 1-800-283-0034.