I met Harry once, when I was around 10 years old and I disliked him instantly. Harry had asked my favorite person in the world to marry him and I didn't like it one bit. There was no way I was interested in sharing my grandmother with this man. My parents weren't thrilled with the idea either but jealousy wasn't the reason. The reason my parents didn't like the idea was Multiple Sclerosis.

As I mentioned, I was 10 and I had no idea what this MS thing was and I didn't really care. The only thing that mattered was that this, man who walked with a cane and whose hands shook a lot, kept touching my grandmother! (The nerve!) My parents, on the other hand, were concerned that Harry was not able to work and this meant my grandmother would have to support them both. My parents were concerned that my grandmother would have to take care of Harry as his health declined. My parents were very concerned, I was just jealous.

My grandmother didn't marry Harry and I'm not sure I was ever told why. I know I never asked her why she turned him down. I guess by the time I was old enough to sort all of that out in my head, I didn't really want to know the answer. I didn't want to think that my parents might have stood between my grandmother and this man because of a health condition. I didn't want to think that my grandmother might not have been able to face the road Harry was traveling. I didn't want to think about any of it, but over the years I've thought an awful lot about it.

March 14-17 is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week which means I'm thinking about my grandmother and Harry once again. Particularly when I visit a blog written about MS or by someone who has MS.

There's Carrie who shares The Top Things People Should Know about MS and Kim Maffin on Mandatory Rest Period. She and her husband, Tod, do some pretty terrific MS Podcasts

Pamela is Looking Foward with Multiple Sclerosis and Amanda on My Complications has two children, MS and a terrific attitude, even when she's in pain and frightened.

I'll leave you with some words of wisdom from Michelle where she blogs on Object of my Injection

....these last few months have been about getting back to normal. I think I've done that quite well with some minor falls off of the horse. I knit everyday I am awake nearly and Monday night I forgot how to purl. Right in the middle of a row, I just forgot. I stopped and was easily reminded that I will never be the same, but in someways I will be better.
If I never take anything for granted I will always be a better person in the end whether or not I never knit again someday or forget how to altogether. Scared or not, I'll be me and I think that is a hell of something to be if you ask me.

~~Denise
Daily Dose of Denise