This graph is about doing a PhD in maths, not physically disabled people’s attitudes to end-of-life issues, but the proportions hold pretty true in my case too. Maybe there’s some universal truth there waiting to be discovered?
see more funny graphs
Today is the third anniversary of me being given my definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (although my neuro thinks I’d had it for at least 15 years before then, based on my history of what we can identify as relapses).
I thought it might be interesting to see what is the “official” gift for a third anniversary. Well, the traditional gift is leather, and the modern gift is glass or crystal.
For an MSer, I think crystal is the far more appropriate gift: it illustrates the fragility I always feel in respect to my health. Six weeks ago, my liver decided to make its presence felt due to the number of meds I take for all my different conditions (what can I say, I’ve always been greedy!) That was sorted pretty quickly and easily by a change in my meds schedule - fortunately it had been picked up early. Being ill with that, though, made the MS kick off. I’ve described it in the past as being like walking a tightrope. It doesn’t take much of a shove to make me wobble like hell!
Similarly, I had a ‘flu bug at the beginning of the year. I know it’s a nasty bug, one that others have suffered badly from. It’s now ten weeks since I had it though, and I’m not back to my “normal” energy levels. So, again the crystal shatters.
I’m not saying all this to moan, and I hope that’s not how it’s coming over. I find that thinking of myself as working my way cautiously along a tightrope, or as a bit fragile, can actually be helpful - it means I’m mindful that I mustn’t make undue demands on my body, and I must listen to my body when it’s ill or tired and it says STOP. And doing those things means that in the long term, I can continue to be the independent, contributing, full member-of-the-community-who-happens-to-have-MS-and-use-a-wheelchair that I am.
So, overall, it’s Happy Crystal Anniversary to Me!
1. The Duchess of Cornwall once watched Bob Marley in concert.
More details
2. Archimedes was murdered over pi.
3. Forty years after colour TV was introduced to the UK there are still 34,700 people with black and white television licences.
4. Late running trains cost the country 14 million minutes last year.
5. A 4cm hole in the heart is not necessarily fatal.
6. Short men are more likely to be jealous.
7. Toasters are banned in Cuba.
8. Yasmin Le Bon is an anti-counterfeit campaigner.
9. Dolphins can communicate with whales.
10. The difference between vines within France’s Champagne region and those just outside is 995,000 euros.
From the BBC.
If you live in the French village of Sarpourenx, it’s best not to die. Well, not unless you’ve done a great deal of forward planning.
The Mayor, Gerard Lalanne, has told the 260 residents of the village that
all persons not having a plot in the cemetery and wishing to be buried in Sarpourenx are forbidden from dying in the parish.
The reason is that there is no room left in the overcrowded cemetery to bury them, and the administrative court in the neighbouring town of Pau has ruled that private land may not be acquired to extend the cemetery.
So…erm…OK, I’ll just not die then. After all, the Mayor says I mustn’t.
1. Princess Eugenie’s first name is pronounced YOO-jenny rather than yoo-JAY-nee
2. British intelligence chiefs tried to guess Hitler’s plans by studying his horoscope.
3. The average midweek bedtime is between 10pm and 11pm.
4. Two million e-mails are sent every minute in the UK.
5. Jackie magazine was named after author Jacqueline Wilson, who was a teenage journalist
6. The whitest place in England and Wales is Easington in County Durham.
7. Prison pay is on average £9.60 a week.
8. Zombies can’t run because their ankles would snap.
9. Latvia has the highest cigarette tax in Europe, at 80% of the price. The UK level is 77%.
10. Households on average spend more on pets than they do on UK holidays.
From the BBC.
Well, according to Blogthings,
|
You Are a Pundit Blogger! |
 Your blog is smart, insightful, and always a quality read. Truly appreciated by many, surpassed by only a few |
Ooer!
This is from Lisa at Brass and Ivory, who has done a huge amount of work tracking down all us MS bloggers. Here’s what to do…
There are at least 137 MS Bloggers out there actively discussing whatever suits their fancy. Below you will find many of these suspects….wait… I mean lovely blogger friends who happen to have multiple sclerosis.
Remember how I mentioned a group project was in the works? Well here it is. As the founder of the Carnival of MS Bloggers, I’d like your help in spreading the word, and in doing so we will strengthen the bonds of our own little Multiple Sclerosis Blogging Web (and share some linkie love with each other). If you are not an MS Blogger, but are a regular reader here, please feel free to help spread the word too.
Here’s what you do:
New editions of the Carnival of MS Bloggers will be presented bi-weekly at Brass and Ivory. Previous editions will be archived here and the button below has been revised to include the new link. Please update your sidebar.
Names of the Blogs - Name of Blogger (if known)
and number of posts in 2008 (as of 5th March)
9 Brand New MS Bloggers joined the blogosphere in 2008!!
New! Carole’s MS Blog (Carole) 49
New! Great Mastications (Orla) 37
New! Movin’ On with MS (Sammie) 26
New! Me, Myself and MS (Emma) 10
New! Being Ammey 8
New! Blogbuster (Daniel) 6
New! Etsy Crest (Shelby) 6
New! Serina’s Blog 5
New! I’m Beating MS (Michael) 2
Most Prolific MS Blogger - so far in 2008!!
Jim’s Deep Thoughts (Jim) 231
Top 10 Rather Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!
A Stellarlife (Diane) 109
Multiple Synchronicities & Sclerosis (Merelyme) 90
Friday’s Child 70
My Journey - Living Well with MS (Diana) 69
Sunshine and Moonlight (Kim) 65
The MonSter Ate My Branes! (Natalie) 65
Queen Mediocretia of Suburbia 60
Brass and Ivory (Lisa) 56
Brain Cheese (Linda) 52
Maybe I’m Just Lazy (Julie) 51
28 Moderately Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!
Maggsbunny (Maggie) 48
Living with Multiple Sclerosis (TC) 47
MS My Way 43
Bugs, Bikes, Brains (Shauna) 39
Dancing with MS (Lazscott) 37
Trying to Catch My Breath 37
A Florida Journal (SwampAngel) 35
Now We Are Six (Tish) 33
Reality Check (Michael) 32
Access Denied (Herrad) 31
Multiple Sclerosis Blog (Charles of MSBpodcast.com) 30
MS Activist (NMSS) 29
Self-injecting Chinese Hamsters since 2007 27
Shirl’s the Girl (Shirley) 27
Disabled Not Dead (Anne) 26
Life with MS (Trevis) 26
Living with MS (Blinders Off) 25
White Lightning Axiom - Redux (mdm) 25
Stevers! 23
Word Salads (Have Myelin?) 23
Danieldoo (Vivian) 22
Caregivingly Yours (Patrick) 20
Deo Volente (Lisa N) 20
Down the MS Path (Vicki) 19
Do You Have That in My Size? (Denise) 17
Jenn’s Nook (Jenn) 17
Fingolimod and Me (Jeri) 16
Human Life Matters (Mark) 16
51 Mildly Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!
A Life of Learning with MS 15
Behind Blue Eyes (Zee) 15
Katy and Mike’s Adventure (Katy) 15
Living Life as a Snowflake (Sharon) 15
Mandatory Rest Period (Kim) 15
MS Maze (Mandy) 15
My Journey with MS (Christina) 15
The Multiple Sclerosis Companion (Pat) 15
‘Tis Herself (Kell) 15
A Short in the Cord (Joan) 14
Blindbeard’s MS Blog 14
Bubbie’s Blog (Cathy) 14
One Crazy Chick (Chris) 14
Pat’s Pond (Pat) 14
Rants and Musings (Cutter) 14
G and K’s Mom 13
MS Toolkit 13
Newly Diagnosed with MS (Andrea) 13
One Life (Stephen) 13
MS Not Just a Diary (Doug) 12
Rayne’s World (Jayme) 12
Chaos Personified 11
My MS Journal (Jaime) 11
Purely Patsy (15 yr old Patsy) 11
Victoria Plum - Technician! (Victoria) 11
26 Less Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!
Broken Clay (Katja) 10
Mark Pickup (Mark) 10
My Chain Driven Ride through Life in Alaska (Michelle) 10
Deborah Does Navel-Gazing (Deb) 9
Funky Mango’s Musings (Margo) 9
Inside the Mind of a Squirrel 9
Living Well with MS (Michon) 9
No Time for MS (Courtney) 9
Sorting It All Out (Michael) 9
Travels With Lucy (Virginia) 9
MS Caregivers (Prudence) 8
Can You Hear Me Now? (Donna) 7
Irreverence is Justified 7
Multiple Sclerosis Notes 7
My Tysabri Diary (Lauren) 7
Chris Has MS (Chris) 6
Diary of Ms X (7 Divas) 5
Electrical Disturbance (Stephan) 5
Know Multiple Sclerosis 5
MS in the OC (Frank) 5
MS News and Notes (Deb) 5
MS Recovery Diet Blog (Ann) 5
The Endomorph (Ruth) 5
The Jaws of My Life (Jaws) 5
Time to Deal with MS (Homer) 5
YodaMamma MS & More 5
38 Barely Prolific MS Bloggers - so far in 2008!!
Some of these folks have multiple blogs or co-blog and are loved none-the-less!! Let’s help spread the love and let them know that WE know they are appreciated.
Carolyne’s MS Odyssey (Carolyne) 4
Defeating Illness (Chris) 4
Intent, Context, Perception (Chris) 4
Libbi’s MS Journey (Libbi) 4
MS Recovery Diet Blog (Judi) 4
My Autoimmune Life 4
The Life & Times of Sancho Knotwise (JM) 4
The Zen Pretzel Trick (Zen Angel) 4
When it’s Raining… (Keeley) 4
Kebenaran - The Truth 3
Montana Homecoming (Sister Jane) 3
Ms Quill 3
Reality Chick (Keli) 3
Catch My Disease (Lisle) 2
Clods and Pebbles 2
Dissonance 2
Georgia MS Advocates 2
Lazy Dog Public House 2
Looking Forward with MS (Pamela) 2
Surviving MS in Alaska (Michelle) 2
These Pretzels Are Making Me Thirsty (Trrish) 2
Troy’s Multiple Sclerosis Experience 2
You Me and MS (Judi) 2
Camille’s MSadventures 1
Comment Column (Virginia) 1
Erik’s MS & Lyme Blog 1
Hop Bloody Hop (Philip) 1
Jenn’s Journey with MS (Jenn) 1
Living with MS (Cyndee) 1
Mismorphic’s World of MS 1
MS Musings 1
MS Real Life Stories & Issues (Kristin) 1
Postcards of My Life (Sherry) 1
Rebooting Times 1
Shoester (Doug) 1
The BS of My MS (Heather) 1
The Perseverant Pincushion (Trish) 1
Tysabri Help (Deej) 1
Having too many items from various posters to count:
LJ Users with Multiple Sclerosis
And finally - 26 MS Bloggers who have been silent in 2008!!
Angst on a Shoestring (Gina)
Dandelion Wine (Lynx)
Doug’s MS Journal (Doug)
Imagine Bliss Butterfly (Suzy)
It’s Not All in My Head (Optimist)
Just Above the Abyss (Heidi)
Life with MS, seeking a cure (Karyl)
Managing MS with Tai Chi (Joel)
Managing Multiple Sclerosis
Marciarita
Michele’s Blog
Mike’s Place
MS - My Scene (Virginia)
My Complications (Amanda)
My Demyelination (Tina)
My MS Experience
Object of My Injection (Michelle)
Say It Isn’t So (Mouse)
Talk Story with Kimberly
The Great NetXperiment
To Be Continued… (Jaime)
Truth and Beauty (Baraka)
Tryin’ to Imagine Bliss (Suzy)
What is MS to Me (Dave)
Willy’s MS Rants
Wind Among the Reeds
Hard to categorize:
I Have MS (Tim)
Huggins’ MS Pages (James)
MS - A Personal Account
MS Protocols (Jeff)
MSB’s Podcast
MSing Around
Multiple Sclerosis Blog and News
Multiple Sclerosis Sucks
OUCH! It’s a Disability Thing
Squiffy’s House of Fun
Thank you for helping to build a stronger MS Community.
1. A white stag lives in the Highlands.
2. Brain tumours can be diagnosed by a handshake.
3. Ian Fleming’s contract with the Sunday Times allowed him to spend winter in Jamaica.
4. Kosovo’s dialling code is the same as Monaco’s.
5. A fire at a landfill site in Guernsey has been smouldering for three years.
6. Staffordshire bull terriers are one of only two breeds that the Kennel Club recommends as suitable with children, the other being a Chesapeake Bay retriever.
7. 99% of beekeepers are hobbyists.
8. The Billy Bunter author, Charles Hamilton, is the world’s most prolific, according to the Guinness Book of Records.
9. The UK spends more on cosmetic surgery than Germany, France and Italy put together.
10. Giving birth to a boy may increase the likelihood of severe postnatal depression.
From the BBC.
He’s 84 years old, he’s on life support, and he’s being called the Canadian Terri Schiavo. His name is Sam Golubchuk. He’s been in intensive care since October, with pneumonia and pulmonary hypertension, and on life support since early November.. He also has brain injuries sustained in a fall four years ago, which resulted in the removal of part of his brain.
His doctors feel that any further treatment would be futile, and want to withdraw life support and artificial feeding. His family disagree, saying that as an Orthodox Jew, Sam would expect everything possible to be done for him: life must be extended as long as possible, and hastening death is not allowed. Sam’s doctors argue that Sam has only minimal brain activity, cannot communicate, and shows no signs of improving. Two US doctors who have reviewed Sam’s chart, however, believe that his condition is improving. The family claim that he is being weaned off life-support, is awake, and holding their hands.
They took Sam’s doctors to court, first gaining an injunction to stop the life support being withdrawn, and now to confirm that decision. Judge Perry Schulman has not only ordered that life support must be continued until the case goes to trial, he has also specifically ordered that all other necessary treatment be given, and that no Do Not Attempt Resuscitation Order be made.
Under new guidelines issued two weeks ago by the College of Physicians in Manitoba, doctors have new rules about when to take someone off life support. If they cannot communicate with the patient, they must consult with family members, but the ultimate decision is up to the doctors. The lawyer for Sam’s family believes that these guidelines must be revised, and that they should not have been issued to doctors before Sam’s case was decided.
These cases are desperately sad. I’m not a great conspiracy theorist, so I don’t tend towards arguments that the doctors are trying to free up an intensive care bed, or anything like that…I’m sure they’re doing and saying what they feel is in Sam’s best interests. Similarly, the family is doing what they feel is in his best interests. Those two things just don’t match up…
In the UK, under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, people now have the right to make decisions in advance to refuse treatments, even if those treatments would be life-saving. It happened before - living wills etc - but they were advisory documents. These are legally binding.
Not everyone makes advance decisions, or discusses their wishes with their relatives. Not everyone wants to, not everyone gets round to it. The more people who do though, the less we’re likely to have this kind of appallingly distressing situation, where nobody gains but the lawyers.
RIP Sam, whenever.
I have news.
No, I’m not a member of the Schutzstaffel.
St John Ambulance has given me a medal! I’m now a Serving Sister of the Order of St John - hence the letter SS after my name.
I already have a medal from them, the service medal. It’s given to everyone with twelve years’ service with St John.
Serving Sister isn’t given to everyone though, by a long way, so I’m very pleased and excited!
Funky Mango is a middle-aged (technically), wheelchair-using, eternal student. She is currently engaged on a PhD with the working title "Physically disabled people's attitudes to end-of-life issues". Yes, she knows it's morbid, but she thinks it's interesting.
You can contact her at margo (at) margomilne.com
![BBCi: Javascript is not available on this browser](http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/bsp/hi/services/htmlsyndication/img/synd_js_error_js-inactive.gif")