Strength in Numbers

A funny thing happened a few days after my initial diagnosis. I sat down to open my Facebook account, just like any other day. As I started reading everyone's posts about their goings-on......I notice I had an in-box message. I was so surprised when I opened it, to find my long lost High School buddy, A.S. We hadn't talked in years. She had found my family blog from my profile and just happened to read my post about my test results. She immediately sent me a message. She let me know I wasn't alone. I had her by my side. When my eyes read the words that she too, was in my same boat, part of me cheered with joy that I had someone truly "in my corner!" But the compassionate side of me wanted to cry, that yet another young mom had this horrible disease. We set up a time to meet for ice cream to talk things out. I have to admit, that part of me couldn't wait to meet up with her and hear how life has been since MS became her companion. But there was a part of me that wanted to run and hide. Would I be more scared after talking with her? Would it make me more sad? The answer to both, when all was said and done, is definitely not. It was incredible to sit with her. She is amazing! She is a new hero of mine. A.S. has been living with MS for almost 2 years now. To see her sitting there, looking as beautiful as ever, and happy even, was good for my soul. She shot things straight to me though. She has had her face droop. She is numb on the whole right side of her body. She has had experiences trying to reach the button on her car radio but feeling like someone was pushing down on her arm so she couldn't reach it. Her mouth has gone numb before. But the fact of the matter is, she works as a speech therapist. She continues to Mother. She is an amazing wife. Life has gone on for her. The thing that was most comforting in meeting with her, was the fact that, right now in my life and circle of friends and family.....she is the only one who truly gets what my numbness feels like. She gets what being diagnosed does to your spirits. She understands my fears. She sees Dr. H and loves him too, even though we both think he is a titch weird, (but that's kinda what Neurologists are! I know, I have worked for 3!). She understands that there are good days and bad days. Never once did she tell me, "It could be worse," or "At least it's just MS", or "So and so has had it 30 yrs. and is just barely in a wheelchair." Yes, I have had all of those said to me. I even had someone go into complete detail about someone they knew with MS and within just a few weeks was in a wheelchair and on a bag for their bowels. (My other friend Wendy and I are in the process of collecting phrases we have both heard for certain trials and are going to make a book titled "What not to say!" It has the potential to be a best seller!) A.S. and her family came over for dinner on Saturday night. It was nice to have our husbands together and talk about the changes that come with all of this. I am grateful to have her as a sounding board and especially grateful to I know if my speech ever goes....she will be there for me with that as well! A.S. will you charge me a copay? I believe in every trial there is a silver lining. A conversation I had at church yesterday helped me to realize that even more. We never know why we are asked to go through things in this life. Through this, I have come closer to my Heavenly Father, I have felt the love of friends and family, and now, I have reconnected with a dear friend. A.S. thank you for having the courage to contact me. I hope we can help each other along this new journey we are both on.