"TURNING THOSE MS SCARS INTO STARS"

MS, lesions, also known as plaques, are patches of inflammation in the central nervous system in which the nerve cells have been striped of their protective myelin or insulating cover. These demyelinated neurons do not function properly and it is these lesions that give rise to the symptoms of MS.

In relapsing-remitting MS, their is significant recovery as the inflammation dies down. Special maintenance cells called glial cells are responsible for the repair of the damaged nerves. One type of glial cell, called an oligodendrocyte, lays down new myelin and another type, called an astrocyte lays down SCAR tissue.

A STAR is defined as a heavenly body, champion, headliner or a virtuoso. Another definition of a Star is defined as a network whose components are connected to a hub.

My faith in God is my connection and that is how I am "Turning Those MS Scars Into Stars." I am striving to experience the challenge of living with MS as a Blessing, an opportunity to grow in compassion, patience, grace, and love, all of which are blessings - Multiple Blessings Not Multiple Sclerosis!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

MS SCARS 2 STARS AND A DOZEN EGGS

On average our MS Self Help Group Meeting has about 12 people in attendance, which is the typical size of most groups. Like a dozen eggs. The members usually are Patients and Caregivers that are looking for support in coping with this illness. As an attendee at your first group meeting you may feel as fragile as an egg, and if you were recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, you may feel more like Humpty Dumpty! I would like to blog the following topic: How do you really feel about MS Self Help Group meetings?
What would help make a MS Self Help Group more exciting and appealing ? When you read the phrase MS Self Help Group, what thought first comes to mind? What are some of your concerns on attending a Self Help Group meeting? Would you like to only attend meetings with people who have similar abilities or disabilities? Are you comfortable sharing with Caregivers attending your SHG (Self Help Group) meeting or would you prefer MS patients only? Do you fear sharing your diagnosis in the SHG because of a lack of privacy? Would you rather SHG meetings were held by a professional speaker on an educational format only? What do you think of groups that restrict their attendance by gender or age? 
In researching the story of Humpty Dumpty for this blog I found that the original Humpty Dumpty was actually a large cannon that was sat on top of a wall, not a obese person portrayed as a cartoon egg that topples to the ground and is shattered! In fact, the fortress wall the cannon was seated upon was toppled and the protection and advantage that the cannon afforded in battle was lost. The historical event of the siege of the city of Colchester in 1648, is fact. Read the entire story. But as the poem goes, 'All the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put Humpty together again!'  No one was able to get the cannon back on top of another part of the wall. Likewise the uniqueness of a Self Help Group is You gather information and You gain understanding about coping with Ms from what others share, Medical Professionals as well as other Patients. We are responsible for our own well being, that's why the meetings are called "Self Help" Group. We may have broken Nerve Axons, see Myoptumhealth.com,  but we are not cracked and broken fragile eggs!
Thanks for sharing by posting your response on this blog.
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