The Diagnoses - Part I of V

My husband, wrote down some of what we go through with MS. He had so much to say that he divided it  into separate parts. He said some powerful things, below is the first of five snippets in his own voice:

A Caregivers Attitude of Gratitude Part I of V

The Diagnoses

Caring for the woman who is not only my friend, my lover, and my wife, is not the type of thing that I take lightly. It also comes with its own unique set of challenges. I realized that as with most things in life, it’s all about your attitude of gratitude.”

When Ruth was first diagnosed with MS I was unable to go with her to the first two appointments with the Neurologist. I can remember it like it was yesterday,

o   July 17, 2015 she meets the Neurologist for the first time

o   July 29, 2015 MRI part one
o   July 31, MRI part 2
o   August 21, second visit with the Neurologist
o   September 18, 2015 the beginning of a new way of living (Tysabri)

 Now that I have typed it all out, I realize just how much I missed. Even though I missed a lot in the beginning, I was always informed about what was going on with her. We would talk all hours of the night about our feelings and mind set about the outcome. Once the Doctor confirmed Ruth diagnoses, we started educating ourselves about MS. The first thing I learned was you’ve got only two choices in this fight; “GIVE UP or GET UP.” Ruth and I have chosen to Get Up and move forward towards the mark.
 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” 2 Corinthians4:8-10.

      Most Gracious Father, as we look upon those things as though they were not as they are, we say thank you. Ruth and I give thanks to you Lord, for you are good and your love endures forever. Your gift of faith taught us to see the dazzling goodness and grace that surround us. Even though we’re feeling beat down, dragged out and stunned by life’s events. Our blessings are many and our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the gift of life. For the ability to love and be loved; for the opportunity to walk, to go outside on good days, for a mind that can still think and a body that feels. We say thank you Jesus. Yet will we still rejoice; in those things that are less than what we hope. For we know that you are as near to us as our next breath. In the midst of this chaos, you are still grooming and molding us in the silence of our soul. Thus we place our trust in you and you alone. We are forever in your debt for the shedding of your blood. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You have given us the greatest act of love we could ever imagine, your unconditional love for eternity. Amen!