MS Maze

If you are steadily losing your ability to walk… to move… to remain independent… your tolerance for extended debate and controversy over a possible treatment, if not a cure, is put to the test.

In this case, debate centers around “Liberation Treatment.” All around the world people with multiple sclerosis have been clamoring for action, ever since last September, when cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Paolo Zamboni released the results of a preliminary study of MS patients indicating a link to chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), a narrowing of the veins that restricts the flow of blood from the brain, causing iron build up, in turn causing the degeneration of neurons.

Dr. Zamboni undertook this research in response to his wife’s own heartbreaking battle against MS. The resulting theory that some types of MS are caused by CCSVI, told him that it might be treated by clearing out major veins to free the blood flow. After confirming that his wife did indeed have CCSVI, he opened the veins by using a small inflated balloon to clear the blockage, a procedure that has earned the moniker Liberation Treatment. In the three years following her surgery, she has not had a relapse…

Read this post in its entirety:

Longing for Liberation

More on Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month

A Diagnosis Odyssey

Who Gets It and Why

Diagnosis, Denial, Due Diligence

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1095865

Have you got style? If so, you probably don’t want to get caught using one of those old clunky metal canes. You deserve nothing less than a decorative cane that suits your personal style.

Last December, my eye was irresistibly drawn to a passerby with a cane. Not just any cane, mind you, but a ladies’ cane, all decked out in holiday glam and glitter. It was a bit over the top, but I admired the owner’s sense of individuality and playfulness.

My own red paisley cane makes a fairly bold statement, but decorative canes have risen to a whole new level. Whether you need a cane as a mobility aid, or are an enthusiastic collector of walking canes, Valentine’s Day walking canes are functional and fun… pinks, reds, and even an imported hand crafted red rose adorn these beauties.

Fashionable Canes offers a gorgeous selection of decorative canes to suit every taste or occasion. Browse their online store and you’ll see what I mean. You’ve got style — show it off!

Related Reading :

Fashionable Canes on the Front Lines

Cop an Attitude with a Fashionable Cane

“If You’re Going to Use a Cane, Use a CANE!”

More Information:

FashionableCanes.com

Fashionable Walking Canes on Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored post. The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I am, in fact, a satisfied customer of FashionableCanes.com and personally use and recommend their products. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255.

In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund’s Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.

The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations to provide memorable summers to NYC children. The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the summer of 2010.

More than 65% of all Fresh Air children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year. Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences.

Fresh Air Fund Host Families

“It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child’s face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted…”

Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away! Click here to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!

Fresh Air Children

“We made s’mores and hot dogs over the fire. I’ve never cooked outside before!”

Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.

The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.

Fresh Air children are registered by more than 90 participating social service and community organizations located in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the five boroughs of New York City. These community-based agencies are in close contact with children in need of summer experiences in rural and suburban areas. Each agency is responsible for registering children for the program.

You can give a child the experience of a lifetime with your gift to The Fresh Air Fund!

Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities.

Whether it’s a two-week trip to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities.

We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing. Donate online now

On March 21st, the Fresh Air Fund-Racers will take to the streets at the NYC Half-Marathon! Thank you to the Fresh Air Fund-Racers and their supporters for participating in this world class event. You are making a huge difference in the lives of thousands of Fresh Air children!

We have limited availability for this amazing race. If you would like to run, please register here right away.

Submitted by the Fresh Air Fund

Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference in quality of life and maintaining independence.

If you have relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis, as I do, it’s easy to overlook simple things that can make life easier when in relapse. Since my own diagnosis in 2004, I have come to appreciate some simple household helpers that assist me in managing daily life with MS.

Read this post in its entirety:

10 Tips for Managing Daily Living with Multiple Sclerosis

It’s your body, and no one has more incentive to take care of it than you do. You can’t depend on anyone else to take the reins when it comes to your health. The responsibility lies with you. Don’t be a passive patient; be a squeaky wheel.

Read this post in its entirety and find how you can:

• Be pro-active about your health.
• Foster a strong doctor-patient relationship.
• Advocate for yourself and your family.
• Research and learn — seek out multiple trusted sources for medical information.

Health Care Self-Advocacy: Be the Squeaky Wheel

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/961618

A cane is nothing more than a mobility aid, right? Well, maybe, but if you’ve got style and personality, why not show it off?

Walking canes and walking sticks can be so much more than mobility aids — the right ones can also be fashionable accessories for the men and for the ladies.

For example, check out the Genuine Zebrano adjustable folding cane. This sleek number is all about attitude and style. The wooden Zebrano handle and sassy pattern add a touch of flair to this adjustable walking cane. As practical as it is gorgeous, this beauty is height-adjustable and folds up for easy storage when not in use.

Or how about a sleek folding adjustable cane? The Chrome-plated derby-handled aluminum walking cane not only provides sturdy support, but the look is one of pure sophistication, smacking of inner confidence.

If, when you think about canes, you still automatically conjure up an image of those clunking metal canes that one might find in a hospital or nursing home, it’s time to reconsider all previous notions about canes and get with the program.

Dull and drab is out — personal style is in. With so many materials, colors, and patterns to choose from, there’s no excuse not to own a cane that suits your individual taste.

Need a walking cane? Get one that cops an attitude!

Browse through the Fashionable Canes and Walking Sticks website and become a fan on Facebook.

Read about my first cane with attitude: “If you going to use a cane, use a CANE!”

Disclosure: This is a compensated post, but I am also a satisfied customer of Fashionable Walking Canes and Walking Sticks.

Multiple sclerosis information on the web… on Twitter… on Facebook… oh my!

When newly diagnosed with something like multiple sclerosis, your first task is to get educated so that you can become your own best advocate. We truly do live in the information age and the internet can be a wonderfully informative source once you weed out the clutter.

While it is up to each individual to judge these sites on their own merits, what follows is a list of some popular online resources for news and information regarding MS, chronic illness, and disability issues in general.

Read this post in its entirety:

Multiple Sclerosis Info on the Web, on Twitter, on Facebook

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1105361

Two million children under the age of five die each year because they do not have access to clean, safe drinking water. Let that statistic sink in.

It’s easy enough to take safe drinking water for granted when it’s there for the taking, straight from the tap, right in the comfort of our own homes. There’s little reason for us to give it much thought, but that’s exactly what I’m asking you to do today, because an estimated one billion people in developing countries are not so fortunate. Their health and well-being, in fact, their very lives, are endangered every day for lack of something so basic as clean drinking water.

Your signature can safe a life… read the post… sign the pledge:

Money for Your Signature

You know about the Big O, but what about The Other ‘O’ ? It’s something every woman should know…

In 2009, approximately 21,550 women in the United States will be diagnosed with it and 14,500-15,000 of them will lose their lives to this silent killer.

Read this post in its entirety:

The Other ‘O’

One of the trickiest minefields in the life of a person with chronic illness involves employment.

If your symptoms aren’t obvious and don’t affect your ability to do your job, should you inform your employer and your co-workers? That’s an intensely personal decision, but you are under no legal obligation to do so.

The Americans With Disabilities Act, which covers employers with fifteen or more employees, prohibits on-the-job discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Knowing your rights in the workplace is essential to your ability to earn a living and remain independent.

Read this post in its entirety and learn your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act:

MS on the Job: Workplace Protections Under ADA

Multiple sclerosis is a complex condition that can involve dozens of symptoms. Because MS takes different forms and varies so greatly from person to person, even those of us who live with MS have trouble with the terminology.

Understanding frequently used terms is helpful not only to us, but to the people who care about us and want to understand. These are some of the basic terms that we’re apt to hear on a regular basis…

Deciphering MS Speak

Myelin is the insulation that coats the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis damages myelin, causing a range of symptoms from paralysis to cognitive disorders. Finding a way to repair damaged myelin has the potential to stop MS in its tracks.

The Myelin Repair Foundation is the largest research organization focused exclusively on developing myelin repair treatments for those living with MS.

The Myelin Repair Foundation, a not-for profit organization created to address the systemic problems in medical research and commercial drug development that work against the rapid delivery of patient treatments, has been increasing its online presence.

Learn more by connecting and interacting with the MRF on Facebook and Twitter. The MRF Blog has launched and feedback is encouraged. Be sure to sign up for the RSS Feed so you don’t miss out on a single post.

It is estimated that more than 30 percent of insured patients with chronic illness cannot afford the co-payments for their medications, which can range from $300 to more than $3,000 per month. Most of these patients are ineligible for other patient assistance programs, forcing many of them to do without.

The Chronic Disease Fund is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to these underinsured individuals so that they can continue to take their much-needed medications and improve their quality of life.

Visit the Chronic Disease Fund’s website to learn more about what they do — and what you can do to help. The CDF is now on Facebook and Twitter, too!

She’s looking for a boyfriend with benefits… health care benefits.

Boyfriend with Health Benefits

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) includes opportunities for premium reductions and extended coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), but do you know whether or not you qualify… or how to obtain these benefits?

You qualify for premium reduction if your (or a family member’s) involuntary termination from employment occurred between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. Eligible individuals will pay only 35 percent of the full COBRA premiums under their plans for up to nine months, and the rest will be reimbursed to the coverage provider in the form of a tax credit.

If you were offered, but declined COBRA coverage…

Read this post in its entirety:

COBRA Benefits under Economic Stimulus: Who Gets What?