The Gravity of Volunteering for MS

I am tired of having MS and not doing enough to help others who also have MS. I hope I never stop feeling that way. It should only motivate me to do more. What have I done? What will I do? There is so much I can do.


In the last year, I donated my body to science. I took part in a CCSVI study at the University of Texas Neurology Department here in Houston. I still don't know the results. I need to find out if they have been released. But, I believe the early/unofficial report I heard was that there is not a link between CCSVI and MS. I had this feeling that is where that idea was going. But, let's all wait for the official results before we all run off with that conclusion.


I participated in my first Walk MS! I started a team. I received lots of encouragement from friends, family and coworkers, but alas, I failed to get anyone to join my team, Team At Peace. I did raise $650 towards MS that the National MS Society is happy to have and to spend as they see fit. I walked in Walk MS at The Woodlands. I have talked by email with the lead organizer of this event, and I am lobbying to be part of the organization committee next year. I have already submitted a couple ideas on how to make the event more rewarding for participants. We'll see if they like what I say. I'll have more news on that later, especially if my offer to help is received warmly.


So, I have that going.


I can't remember if I mentioned this. We all have our personal issues, I know. A little over a year ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I'm just over 50 and relatively healthy otherwise,... what? Yeh, I have this MS thing, sure. Anyways, long story short, I opted to have surgery as opposed to radiation treatment, chemotherapy, or doing nothing. There are side effects to surgery, just like there would be with any of the other options. But, here I am a year later and still able to sit up and take sustenance. So, with the conglomeration of all that has happened to me, I suppose that has contributed to me feeling like I want to give back, give away, give out,... just give. I mean, we're all mortal, right? We can't take it with us. We have to leave it all behind when we go. Why not work towards that now, while I'm still here. I feel the need to do that and that need seems to be growing. It's timing, I guess. It's time to feel humble and realize that I'm not the only one on this planet Earth that is being held down by gravity.


Okay, so what's the plan. I actually offered to start another Walk MS in my own part of town. The reply was that there wasn't enough available bandwidth for another Walk MS. Plus, people from my part of town had no problem traveling to the other parts of town to do their walk. Okay. We can put my efforts into the other Walk MS. I thought about riding a bike in the MS 150 from Houston to Austin, but I honestly am not sure if I could make it. I was a stud at one time in my life, but that was another guy and it seems like a lifetime ago. I will let that idea go.


I thought about having a MS Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament. I like to play and I know there are a lot of other people that like to play, and a lot of them will even pay to play. So, the possibilities are there for a MS Hold'em Tournament! I recently was one of the organizers of a tournament for the United Way that raised over $40,000. I know how to do it. I think I can do it. I think I will talk to the organizers of the Walk MS in the Houston area and see what they think. I have incentive!


Okay, until later!

I'm sorry that this post and my previous post appear to not use paragraphs. That is not my doing. I have sent a message to Google to get an answer.

A Workout For Someone With MS

For some it's rolling out of bed and then rolling to the kitchen in the morning. I'm lucky. I can do most things that people without MS can do. Sure, balance is an issue at times. My dog can attest to that. Long distance running is not on the menu. I am somewhere below that. Somewhere between housework and weight training and between the two, I don't prefer housework.

I've been slowed down lately with a heel problem and tendinitis in my elbow. The heel pain, after two months, is finally starting to subside. The elbow, ugh! Lately, it has been tough to open a bag of potato chips, it is so sore! My elbow, I can't rest. I have to use it. I have to eat those chips...

Anyways, when things calm down, and I trust they will... I will be getting back into my workout routine. I have an incline workout bench. You know, similar to the ones they sell on TV. Anyways, I love it. It allows me to use my body weight as the movable object. The angle of the bench changes the force it takes to move me. I can do it at home. I don't have to travel to the workout facility. I don't have to go into the dirty locker rooms at the workout facility. I am not working out on equipment that has seen the sweaty backs of thousands before me. My dog can jump up on my stomach and ride with me through my reps! She does! She really does! Jumping rope has become a feature of my workout. So simple, but so good for your cardio!

Coordination. Endurance.

Two years ago we had an employee Olympics. We had a relay and I chose to do the jump rope portion. I failed and was unable to complete the task. Someone literally jumped in to do it for me so our team could continue. I was embarrassed. Well, now I know that I could do it and with flying colors. So, now I am waiting to heal so I can get back into the working out that I love to do. I love it because I can see and feel the results. There is nothing better than being able to see and feel improvement, and to know that you earned it!