multiple Sclerosis

In 1996, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It is a chronic disease (always there, no breaks) that is progressive (it gets worse with time) and disabling (I began with a slight limp and now use a wheelchair). At twenty-one years of age, it's old enough to drink. Personally, I don't imbibe any alcohol, but it's welcome to drink itself to death

I "celebrated" my twenty-first anniversary with ms by getting a new motorized wheelchair. This thing can recline until my feet are elevated above my heart; I can raise the seat 8" to reach items in higher shelves at the store; it can cruise along at a blinding 7.6 mph, which is fast enough that Kobe has to run to keep up with me; it comes with a cell phone charger; it has blue tooth, headlights, taillights, turn signals, and four-way flashers. The only things missing are a blue ray player and a wet bar.

We capitalize names as a sign of respect (God, United States of America, etc.), an honor I refuse to bestow on ms. I prefer to call it, "the bastard."

In my PMS days (prior to ms), I exercised my creativity by designing and building furniture. I made most of the cabinets, tables and shelves in my home. As the disability progressed, however, I was no longer able to do that work. One of the physiological effects of ms is the destruction of brain cells. Fortunately, the cells I've lost are the ones I wasn't using anyway, and I channeled my imagination and creativity into writing.

Other Works

PN Magazine, a publication of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), has printed twenty articles I have written regarding life with ms. They are:

December2001: Multiple Sclerosis: An Owner's Manual

July 2002: The View From Belt Buckle Height

February 2003:  The Whole Enchilada

November 2003:  Changing Your Oil Naturally

August 2005:   Grabbing the Wheel

December 2006:  Cranberries for the Soul

December 2007:  Two Left Feet

August 2008:  In My Right Mind

July 2009:  Living in a Friendly Universe

October 2010:  When Your Instincts Speak

July 2012:  And the Hits Just Keep On Comin'

October 2013: Good Grief!

December 2014: Because I Can!

November 2015:  Thanks, I Needed That

November 2016:  Improvise, Adapt, Overcome

November 2017: That's How We Roll

November 2018: Dependent Independence

March 2020: They Call Me Lazarus

April 2024  Thank You For Your Service

August 2026  Happy Anniversary