When I checked my email this morning I saw a note from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. They asked the question, “Why do you want
I posted #1 in this series in 2011. It was as about a transportation service for disabled people, called RTP. It sucks, and I haven’t
We never slept apart out of anger. The only time Kim tried was a couple years into our marriage, but it didn’t work. We had
I can remember my childhood telephone number: 207-794-8247 But I can’t remember the current cell phone number for either of my children. I do remember
I receive so much positive feedback for my blog posts. I am referred to as inspirational, or courageous, or any number of similar accolades. Of
In the last year I’ve experienced increased difficulty getting food from my plate to my mouth. In an ironic twist, my skills at getting food
People are moving back to the cities. After decades of migrating away from one another, and building on huge, wooded house lots that isolated us
A month ago I debunked an old adage – Everything Happens for a Reason. Now I’m at it again. This month I take aim at Anything is
To say that I am a fan of the firm handshake doesn’t begin to do it justice. I don’t only enjoy or prefer a firm
People with MS find it particularly challenging to remain productive, and employed, in the workforce. The video below, called “Working it Out,” was produced by a UK based
The photo at the right was taken on Sunday. Kim and I are on the cliff walk near Portland Headlight, about a five minute drive from
When Kim chose to become a teacher, shortly after we married, it seemed like a nice fit for our family plans. I would work the
Whenever I hear someone say, “Everything happens for a reason,” I usually blurt out, “Nothing happens for a reason!” Of course, the truth is somewhere
Everyday Health is a major online magazine. People such as Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Meredith Vieira are contributors. I wasn’t interviewed by either of them,
When I last updated you on my overhead lift system reimbursement from Anthem, I wrote: “My insurance company indicated they will reimburse all but $700
ali edwards My friend Andrew McLaughlin recently posted the following status on Facebook, after visiting our home town of Lincoln, Maine, during its homecoming celebration:
For the second summer in a row (click here for last summer’s story), Kim and I spent a couple of nights at a lake in
“Does Mitch’s left hand not work anymore?” our friend Amy whispered to Kim as we left the restaurant last weekend in Bangor. “Why? Did he
I am very busy these days. It’s as if we are cramming an entire summer’s worth of activities into the first two weeks of July.
I don’t walk in the woods anymore, but I do sit by the ocean. I don’t sleep well at night, but I do take naps
My April 29 post said: “The Sure Hands lift system has the unique characteristic of allowing a disabled person to control the entire process. If
I enjoy the thought exercise where I imagine how people 100 years in the future will regard our generation. I hope that they will be
Aren’t you sick of people asking, cajoling, even beseeching you (it’s better than besmirching you) to donate to their charity? I’m not going to do
My friend Kate Milliken is a talented and tireless advocate for people with MS. Here is her message: My name is Kate Milliken and I
There are many approaches to solving disability problems in human beings. In the case of multiple sclerosis, for example, here are just a few of
(Wikipedia) Before I was diagnosed with MS, and for the first few years afterward, I was dedicated to my exercise programs. My ideal workout time
In a November, 2013 post I shared how MS Focus magazine had asked me to write a piece for their recurring feature entitled “Men… & MS.”
As the second Sunday of May approaches each year, I naturally grow sentimental about my late mother. But there are other triggers that make me
It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to get into and out of bed by myself. In my March 18 blog post I
If you’re going to have a dog, and you sit at home all day like me, it’s best to have the ideal dog. Phoebe is
Life (Photo credit: Light Knight) Do I miss my old life, the one before MS?You bet I do. When do I miss it? Every time
This is the ninth in a series of posts about how a disabled person like me passes the time at home, now that I no
Robin (Photo credit: blmiers2) I run the kind of blog where readers can trust that they’ll never be subjected to a post about the weather.
Hoyer lift, used for lifting patients into/out of bed. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) “Sometimes I wish for falling Wish for the release Wish for falling through
“If you refuse to do it yourself, I’ll do it for you,” I threatened. “Oh no you won’t!” Kim replied. What had begun as a
It’s becoming more and more difficult for me to don my winter coat, even with assistance, especially the part where I try to stuff my
Things I Miss 1. Walking (obviously) As a wheelchair user, I’m not only missing out on little slices of life due to accessibility issues. I’m
(Photo credit: Wikipedia) I’ve accepted that I can no longer walk, and I’ve adjusted to the constant fatigue and the failing memory. Kim and I
(Photo credit: Tax Credits) This is the eighth in a series of posts about how a disabled person like me passes the time at home,
(Photo credit: hfabulous) I’ve learned so many lessons in my first half-century. I suppose this is true of every 50-year-old, but only a few of
(Photo credit: Wikipedia) On the whole, things get more difficult over time with progressive MS. But once in a while we stumble upon a new
(Photo credit: Wikipedia) I see no benefit in wishing that things had turned out better. That’s a waste of time and an emotional drain. However,
It’s that time of the year again. Each January I take a moment to assess what I’ve gained and lost in the past year, and
You might call it an early Christmas present. As I indicated in my previous iBot update, the FDA held a hearing on December 12 to
From time to time I will post Memories, where I describe some facet of my life before MS. I hope you enjoy these digressions. Growing up,
note: click on any of the photos to enlarge Snowfall in this part of Maine begins in December and can linger through early April –
This picture shows Bill Clinton and Dean Kamen in the office of the president. Kamen is on his iBot. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The story of
In the run-up to the Thanksgiving holiday, which is celebrated this Thursday in the United States, everyone is compelled to share what it is they
I’m an engineer, not an author. I know great writing, and this is not that. I do feel that I have a compelling story to
Everybody is so busy today that they barely have time to deal with their ever-expanding responsibilities, let alone pause to watch something interesting or informative.
There will be no images used in the production of this blog post. I received a letter in the mail recently from a law firm
My 50th birthday was Friday, and Kim threw a huge party. I’ve been to a few of these, and also some retirement parties, and found
This is part three of my three part series about our trip to Gillette Stadium. Click here for part one or here for part two.
This is part two of my three part series about our trip to Gillette Stadium. Click here for part one. We decided to compress our
It’s always great fun, and one of the highlights of our year, to make our annual trek to watch the Patriots play football at Gillette Stadium. But our
Even though I was only a young boy, by the time I attended my first game at Fenway Park I was already a devoted and
At the risk of boring you with one more post about how much I love my neighborhood, I’d like to share with you a walk
Because I can barely do anything physical, Kim and I have this running gag. “Kim, we need to mow the lawn, and by WE, I
I liken MS to premature aging. Not everybody has MS, so it’s sometimes difficult for people to identify with my situation. But everyone gets older.
Nature (Photo credit: @Doug88888) This post was originally published in 2011, but on the heels of last week’s post, I think it is particularly apropos.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia) I can no longer type, and I can’t hold onto a book. I am unable to raise my arm high enough to
Marc and I became acquainted when we were hot on the trail of an emerging stem cell treatment in Israel. The total cost was something
(Photo credit: Denis Collette…!!!) I’ve thanked a lot of people in my blog posts: Kim, various friends and relatives, random people who helped me at
Despite my disability, and to a certain extent because of it, Kim and I remain social animals. We love spending time with friends, in our