This is going to be a short one as I am really exhausted and should have been asleep a long time ago, but I have to get this out tonight. I learn almost daily of a new limitation and today was no different. One of my Sorority sisters children is in need of some bone marrow, and of course I would love to have my blood drawn to see if I can help her out, but I will not be considered since MS is a chronic illness. I can't help her by giving my blood and being a potential match, but I can help by sending the information out and asking others to help so here goes:
Ashante Sloan is need of bone marrow. She is the youngest daughter of my Sorority sister Emma Sloan (Omicron Omega, Birmingham, AL) and sister of Spelman Sorority Ashaki Sloan Means, Mu Pi, Spr 96 and for the ATLiens, Ashante is the cousin of City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell and David Mitchell (Mays c/o 86, and 87). For those of you who have already volunteered and provided your registry info, on behalf of Ashante, her family and friends, we sincerely thank and bless you! Feel free to share this message with your various distros.. Again, thank you!
That's all for tonight folks.
Till tomorrow,
AJ
xoxo
Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Hot, Hot, and Hot!
It is hot as all get out in DC today and we all know that folks with MS have problems in the heat. I have plans to go to an out door show tonight at 7 and I am hoping that I make it. I had to give myself that dang Avonex shot last night, so I am truly exhausted today and dragging along like a little old lady:-(. At any rate, I am fortunate to be alive and will make the most of my day indoors.
Now on to one of my biggest pet peeves. I hate it when someone calls you on the phone and you tell them that you are on the other line and they proceed to talk to you anyway! What on earth is that about? Folks, please don't do that to people. It is annoying and I will go ahead and hang up on you, because I don't care about your feelings...lol.
I promised that I would speak about Black in America 2 so here is my opinion. I thought it was better than the first one (although I liked the first one as well) and was well rounded. I don't think that a lot of people really know what it is like to be a minority in this country and that includes a lot of minorities themselves. I get angry when the 10% of the black population who happened to be born to well off parents see Black in America start ng ranting about how this is not what black life is in America. Folks, this is what it is like for 90% of the black population in America. Wake up!!! There are children who get up in the morning and dress themselves, cook their own breakfast, and get themselves out to school or not every single day. Sometimes they have to get a younger sibling(s) ready as well. There are children who cook dinner (if there is any food in the house at all) for themselves and their sibling(s) every single day. Children whose parents are on drugs and alcohol or just don't give a damn are taking care of themselves. Most of them want to get out of their situation but they don't have anyone to lead them and show them the way. I cried with the young lady who was able to get in college because she wanted OUT and wanted to change the course of her life. I was that girl and I felt her pain. I am going to pray for her because her journey will be hard and her road rocky and rough, but I know that she can make it as long as she lives by the motto "Failure is not an option" she will make it out.
Well I am off to take my nap so that I can possibly have a good time tonight...lol. I wish you all a beautiful Saturday.
Adrianne
xoxo
Now on to one of my biggest pet peeves. I hate it when someone calls you on the phone and you tell them that you are on the other line and they proceed to talk to you anyway! What on earth is that about? Folks, please don't do that to people. It is annoying and I will go ahead and hang up on you, because I don't care about your feelings...lol.
I promised that I would speak about Black in America 2 so here is my opinion. I thought it was better than the first one (although I liked the first one as well) and was well rounded. I don't think that a lot of people really know what it is like to be a minority in this country and that includes a lot of minorities themselves. I get angry when the 10% of the black population who happened to be born to well off parents see Black in America start ng ranting about how this is not what black life is in America. Folks, this is what it is like for 90% of the black population in America. Wake up!!! There are children who get up in the morning and dress themselves, cook their own breakfast, and get themselves out to school or not every single day. Sometimes they have to get a younger sibling(s) ready as well. There are children who cook dinner (if there is any food in the house at all) for themselves and their sibling(s) every single day. Children whose parents are on drugs and alcohol or just don't give a damn are taking care of themselves. Most of them want to get out of their situation but they don't have anyone to lead them and show them the way. I cried with the young lady who was able to get in college because she wanted OUT and wanted to change the course of her life. I was that girl and I felt her pain. I am going to pray for her because her journey will be hard and her road rocky and rough, but I know that she can make it as long as she lives by the motto "Failure is not an option" she will make it out.
Well I am off to take my nap so that I can possibly have a good time tonight...lol. I wish you all a beautiful Saturday.
Adrianne
xoxo
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Living My Life My Way
It has been a long time since my last post. I will admit to slacking off, but mostly because I have been working too many hours and traveling way too much. I am hoping to have a slow and easy August, but with a work trip already on the calendar I am not so sure about it. I just returned from my sorority conference in Anchorage, Alaska and although I enjoyed myself and it was wonderful to go to a place that I had never visited before, I learned a lot about friendships and people. One would think that at the age of 38, I would have learned most of the "friend" lessons by now, but in some way I believe that I am just a glutten for punishment...LOL!
I often forget that MS is my problem and no one elses. There are times when I have to do what I have to do for me and just let folks stand there and think whatever they want to think. I know that I have to do things differently now. I hate the fact that I have to explain to people that I have to plan my activities due to fatigue. I would love to be able to do EVERYTHING that I want to do on any given day, but unfortnately even with medication I am unable to do a full day of activities and then hang out in the evening. Shoot, on a lot of days I can't even do a full day of activities. I don't talk about it to people, because I feel that I shouldn't have to explain that kind of stuff every five minutes. If I say I can't do something it should be enough period.
There is a friend of mine coming in town this weekend and I want to spend time with her, but I also want to attend my church service on Sunday as I have missed the last two sundays due to being out of town. I plan to maybe go and have a drink with her on Friday after work and I will meet up with her for an outdoor concert at 7 PM on Saturday, but I have to go home right after so that I can attend church on Sunday morning. In order to do Friday for a drink and a Saturday night outdoor show, I will sacrafice Saturday and stay in and rest most of the day. These are the effects of MS that people do not understand.
I thank God for the "friends" that I have who have taken the time to understand MS and to those who don't I bid them a farewell. It is time to live for me and stop worrying about other people. I have to take care of Adrianne and I am going to have to be selfish for a little while and focus on myself. Good luck to the rest.
Till next time folks,
AJ
xoxo
P.S.
I have a whole lot to say about Black In America, but will have to wait until tomorrow because I am truly exhausted.
I often forget that MS is my problem and no one elses. There are times when I have to do what I have to do for me and just let folks stand there and think whatever they want to think. I know that I have to do things differently now. I hate the fact that I have to explain to people that I have to plan my activities due to fatigue. I would love to be able to do EVERYTHING that I want to do on any given day, but unfortnately even with medication I am unable to do a full day of activities and then hang out in the evening. Shoot, on a lot of days I can't even do a full day of activities. I don't talk about it to people, because I feel that I shouldn't have to explain that kind of stuff every five minutes. If I say I can't do something it should be enough period.
There is a friend of mine coming in town this weekend and I want to spend time with her, but I also want to attend my church service on Sunday as I have missed the last two sundays due to being out of town. I plan to maybe go and have a drink with her on Friday after work and I will meet up with her for an outdoor concert at 7 PM on Saturday, but I have to go home right after so that I can attend church on Sunday morning. In order to do Friday for a drink and a Saturday night outdoor show, I will sacrafice Saturday and stay in and rest most of the day. These are the effects of MS that people do not understand.
I thank God for the "friends" that I have who have taken the time to understand MS and to those who don't I bid them a farewell. It is time to live for me and stop worrying about other people. I have to take care of Adrianne and I am going to have to be selfish for a little while and focus on myself. Good luck to the rest.
Till next time folks,
AJ
xoxo
P.S.
I have a whole lot to say about Black In America, but will have to wait until tomorrow because I am truly exhausted.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Yet Another Dose of Avonex
I take Avonex to help slow down the progression of my MS and Friday is shot night. I spend the entire day dreading that shot and thinking to myself that this week will be different. I will not cry, I will not allow the shot to conquer me. I will conquer the shot. Of course tonight went as all the others and I was terrified as usual. I started the entire process an hour ago and I just successfully gave myself the shot after what I call a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears. I envy all those who have a good friend, a caretaker, a spouse or a boyfriend to help them through shot night and all other things MS related. If I ever get one, I will surely not take the person for granted.
Well, I wanted to tell you all about my first night at MS Exercise, but I am pretty worn out now that I have cried for an hour so until tomorrow....xoxo
Well, I wanted to tell you all about my first night at MS Exercise, but I am pretty worn out now that I have cried for an hour so until tomorrow....xoxo
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The Beginning of a New Way of Life
On July 3, 2009, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the Georgetown University Hospital. It was my third opinion and I remember being disappointed that I was being told by yet another doctor that I was going to live like this for the rest of my life. I was sent home to decide which treatments I would like to start to attempt to manage and slow down the progression. Although I had been going from doctor to doctor seeking an answer to many questions about my ailments for several months, I was not ready for the finality of the answer that I received on that day. I was brave while I was in the hospital and I made it all the way home before I cried.
Since that day in July, I have learned a whole lot about myself, the people I thought were my friends and about life in general. This blog is going to be about all those lessons learned and more. My life has been challenging at best, but I still feel truly blessed to have lived such an amazing life. I defied all kinds of odds as a teenager and I am defying them even now. I am the strongest person I know and I know a lot of people...lol. I don't have a lot of friends, but I know a lot of people.
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system. The symptoms are different in every individual, so no one person's MS is the same. My symptoms began as dizziness, numbness in the feet and hands, and stiffness in the legs. I had my first MS episode on February 8, 2008 at 1:30 in the morning. For the next five months, I had vertigo 24 hours a day. I still experience a lot of problems with vertigo even now and I believe this is the one symptom that I will never be able to fully control.
As I go through my journey with this disease, I am hoping that my blog tales will be a help to someone who has it or is caring for someone who has it.
Many blessings and until tomorrow....
AJ
Since that day in July, I have learned a whole lot about myself, the people I thought were my friends and about life in general. This blog is going to be about all those lessons learned and more. My life has been challenging at best, but I still feel truly blessed to have lived such an amazing life. I defied all kinds of odds as a teenager and I am defying them even now. I am the strongest person I know and I know a lot of people...lol. I don't have a lot of friends, but I know a lot of people.
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system. The symptoms are different in every individual, so no one person's MS is the same. My symptoms began as dizziness, numbness in the feet and hands, and stiffness in the legs. I had my first MS episode on February 8, 2008 at 1:30 in the morning. For the next five months, I had vertigo 24 hours a day. I still experience a lot of problems with vertigo even now and I believe this is the one symptom that I will never be able to fully control.
As I go through my journey with this disease, I am hoping that my blog tales will be a help to someone who has it or is caring for someone who has it.
Many blessings and until tomorrow....
AJ
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