After my mother passed away in 2008, we began the joyless task of going through her things. We donated her hospital bed and considered doing the same with her patient lift, a tool her caregivers had used to get her in and out of bed for the last thirty-nine years of her life (like Lassie,… Continue reading My Mother’s Patient Lift
MITCH STURGEON
Author and Blogger
Living With MS
Category: Uncategorized
Alice
Once a month, at physical therapy, I have to answer a questionnaire about how well I can complete certain tasks of daily living. It’s an insurance requirement. The scale goes from 0 to 4, where 0 is extreme difficulty or unable to perform, and 4 is no difficulty. I score mostly 0 or 1, except sleeping. I’m a 4… Continue reading Alice
Annual Report 2015
It’s that time again, when I take a moment to assess what I’ve gained and lost in the past year, and what changes may await me in the coming one. As you know, I try to strike a balance. I don’t sugarcoat my condition, but neither do I focus only on the negative. And I… Continue reading Annual Report 2015
White Christmas? No Thank You
I get it. Global warming might be the most serious threat facing humanity in the long-term: coastal cities underwater, extreme weather events, the elimination of the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems. What a terrible thing. Worse than terrorism, texting and driving, and Donald Trump combined. And yet, when we experienced record warmth on Christmas Day in… Continue reading White Christmas? No Thank You
Talking With Your Hands
Most of us don’t appreciate the extent to which we talk with our hands. It’s an unconscious thing. I’ve noticed a couple of instances lately, where people talk with their hands and are almost powerless to stop. The first: my physical therapist. He is a great guy, a top-notch PT, and a delightful conversationalist. But… Continue reading Talking With Your Hands
Aging Before Your Eyes
I have so many photos, I wanted to do something fun with them for the blog. I made this slideshow to demonstrate, in just over one minute, how I’ve aged in the last 52 years. I hope you find it entertaining. For what it’s worth, I was diagnosed with MS at age 38, or 56… Continue reading Aging Before Your Eyes
Amazon Echo
I may have a problem. It started innocently enough with my first cell phone. Back then we called it a bag phone or a car phone. Now I have a few more high-tech toys: Plasma TV in bedroom LCD/LED 3-D TV in living room Chromecast module for living room TV Slingbox so I can watch my… Continue reading Amazon Echo
We Need Help
Kim holds down two full-time jobs: guidance counselor and caregiver. It would be nice to have somebody come in and take care of me one or two mornings a week, to lighten her load. But these people are expensive. I’d heard of programs that provide financial support for home care, but I needed help navigating… Continue reading We Need Help
Complications
A couple of years ago my eye doctor diagnosed me with chronic dry eye syndrome. “No problem,” he said. “Just use these eye drops every few hours and you should be good to go.” But there was a complication. I’m physically unable to put drops in my eyes, and I’m alone much of the day.… Continue reading Complications
I Don’t Wish to Have My Old Life Back
People with MS often lament, “I just want my old life back,” but I’m pretty sure I’ve never uttered those words. As disheartening as it is to suffer with this disease, because of my struggles I’ve grown emotionally, and I’d rather not go back to the person I used to be. I’m better than that.… Continue reading I Don’t Wish to Have My Old Life Back