Sunday, February 27, 2005
Life Changes
My family has been in a perpetual state of crisis for many years now. It began over a decade ago when my brother first began to experience symptoms of his now chronic muscle and nerve pain. No one knows what he has after years of research, doctor visits and many dollars spent. Johns Hopkins says it may be something they have never seen.
As his condition deteriorated and his emotional response to his condition worsened, the family suffered along with him. Most notably, my mother and myself. My mother, because her baby was sick and she could do nothing about it. And me, because my brother who I respect and love deeply was suffering. Additionally, the burden of research grew such that my own body began to fail. I developed symptoms of fibromyalgia in the mid 1990's which coincided with my brother's worst years, emotionally speaking.
Eventually, my brother pushed through the emotional crisis of being one of the afflicted and came out stronger, wiser, saner and full of faith. He continues to amaze me. Now, as his health declines his spirit and his mind grow stronger.
I also improved -- both emotionally and physically. Lifestyle changes including regularly sleeping habits, reduction of caffeine intake and meditation have all helped a great deal, as did a year of weekly massage therapy. I also credit Dr. Paul St. Amand's guaifenesin treatment protocol (http://www.guaidoc.com/index.htm). I take 1200 mg daily and have since 1998.
Mom lives with me, now. Being closer to her kids (Paul lives only five minutes away) seems to help her.
All this to say, that the kind of adversity we have had to face is unusual. Most families don't have to deal with this. But I hope it is comforting for others to realize that even under such dire straights, the human spirit is such that it can overcome. We each have within us the ability to adapt and to take new attitudes and to dig deep when we need to do so in order to survive -- even to thrive.
If you have had a life filled with good fortune, enjoy it. But also know that if you are tested, you can overcome even the unimaginable.
As his condition deteriorated and his emotional response to his condition worsened, the family suffered along with him. Most notably, my mother and myself. My mother, because her baby was sick and she could do nothing about it. And me, because my brother who I respect and love deeply was suffering. Additionally, the burden of research grew such that my own body began to fail. I developed symptoms of fibromyalgia in the mid 1990's which coincided with my brother's worst years, emotionally speaking.
Eventually, my brother pushed through the emotional crisis of being one of the afflicted and came out stronger, wiser, saner and full of faith. He continues to amaze me. Now, as his health declines his spirit and his mind grow stronger.
I also improved -- both emotionally and physically. Lifestyle changes including regularly sleeping habits, reduction of caffeine intake and meditation have all helped a great deal, as did a year of weekly massage therapy. I also credit Dr. Paul St. Amand's guaifenesin treatment protocol (http://www.guaidoc.com/index.htm). I take 1200 mg daily and have since 1998.
Mom lives with me, now. Being closer to her kids (Paul lives only five minutes away) seems to help her.
All this to say, that the kind of adversity we have had to face is unusual. Most families don't have to deal with this. But I hope it is comforting for others to realize that even under such dire straights, the human spirit is such that it can overcome. We each have within us the ability to adapt and to take new attitudes and to dig deep when we need to do so in order to survive -- even to thrive.
If you have had a life filled with good fortune, enjoy it. But also know that if you are tested, you can overcome even the unimaginable.
