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.
