Rick on June 16th, 2010

The title gives it away, but with which medical professional is a Multiple Sclerosis patient likely to have the most contact? In my experience, it has been her pharmacist. Most medications are refilled monthly. Between quarterly or annual visits to the neurologist, I believe most concerns about Multiple Sclerosis are related to medications. And in [...]

Continue reading about Get to Know Your Pharmacist


Rick on March 31st, 2010

During the last few weeks, I’ve been asked by caregivers (via this blog’s contact form) for help finding support for themselves in their local communities. I take these requests seriously. In fact, it would be impossible not to because the caregivers include information about their particular needs. Perhaps it’s empathy, or a sense that we’re [...]

Continue reading about Finding Caregiver Support


Rick on January 18th, 2010

On a recent evening, my wife and I were sitting in the living room, both of us reading and sipping hot chocolate before we ended our day. She, snuggled in a dark pink sweater and wrapped in her light pink afghan, caught my eye as I sat in my chair. She smiled. “I enjoy the [...]

Continue reading about She is God’s Best Gift


Rick on December 20th, 2009

Today’s Herald Tribune in Sarasota, Florida, offers an excellent story of one couple’s journey of love. The subtitle, “A Manatee County man’s devotion to his wife seems limitless“, summarizes the story of Oliver and Phyllis DeSofi. Mr. DeSofi is a committed husband and MS caregiver for his wife. Don’t miss this story … “One couple’s [...]

Continue reading about One couple’s journey of love


Spend time on the Family Caregiver Alliance website at: http://www.caregiver.org Of particular interest to Multiple Sclerosis caregivers will be the Family Caregiver Alliance Fact Sheet on Multiple Sclerosis. In addition to common information about MS, the fact sheet includes important information about cognitive problems caused by MS and their impact on caregivers. For example, “About [...]

Continue reading about Family Caregiver Alliance Publication on Multiple Sclerosis


Rick on February 11th, 2009

“Doing Your Best When You Can’t Make It Better” has been the tagline of this blog since I started it. I think the tagline may express too much futility. Maybe I was having a bad day or month when I wrote it. Today, I’m changing the tagline to something much more positive and more reflective [...]

Continue reading about Doing Your Best


Rick on January 31st, 2009

One of the first commitments I made to myself after my wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis is that I wouldn’t allow it to impact my children in negative ways. That was eight years ago. They were five and eight years old at the time. Fortunately, my wife and I have been able to keep [...]

Continue reading about Children as Caregivers


Rick on January 17th, 2009

As a caregiver, you know your family finances are probably different than those of some of your friends. You have medical expenses most of your friends do not have. Chances are good that your friends’ families are dual income families. Yours is probably not. Caregiving often brings its own unique set of financial burdens. Helpful [...]

Continue reading about Family Finance for Caregivers


Rick on April 4th, 2008

As a caregiver, if you wonder when or whether your caregiving might be “too” caregiving, there’s a simple way to find out. Ask the person for whom you care if you’re doing too much.

And remember, what you’re needed for today may not be what you’re needed for tomorrow. The symptoms caused by Multiple Sclerosis vary over time. You may need to do the grocery shopping for several months in a row and then be surprised when you’re told, “I’ll do the shopping today.”

Continue reading about Can a Caregiver Be Too Helpful?


Rick on October 31st, 2007

When someone asks you if you want the good news or the bad news first, which do you choose? I prefer the bad news first because then the good news sounds even better. Of course, some days you only get the bad news. Yesterday, after her neurologist conducted an EMG on her leg, she had [...]

Continue reading about What Do You Do with Bad News?


Rick on October 22nd, 2007

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society offers an excellent online brochure titled, “Fatigue: What You Should Know – A Guide for People with Multiple Sclerosis“. The introduction explains MS-related fatigue, the but the best part is the “causes and Treatments” section. It offers treatment options for breathing and movement problems as well as a list of [...]

Continue reading about Fatigue: What You Should Know


Rick on September 24th, 2007

A friend told me yesterday he had seen my wife in a local store and “she looked good.” I agreed, “Yes, she does look good!” I embarrassed him a little so he clarified it a bit, “I mean she looks like she’s getting along well.” Of course few see her when she’s not getting along [...]

Continue reading about Fretting About the Future


Rick on September 22nd, 2007

I remember reading the cartoon book, “Good Grief, Charlie Brown”, when I was a child. The phrase, “good grief,” grabbed my attention. What did it mean? I knew grief was what one experienced when someone died. At the time I didn’t imagine that could be good. One lives long enough and learns that grief really [...]

Continue reading about Anticipatory Grief is a Good Thing


Rick on September 19th, 2007

Getting the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis took too long from the time my wife first talked to her primary care physician about the intense headaches and shaking hands until the second neurologist completed his testing and gave us the diagnosis. The medical tests were frustrating, the feedback came too slowly, and living in a small [...]

Continue reading about Multiple Sclerosis is Not Brain Cancer


Rick on September 16th, 2007

It’s Sunday! The New Testament is full of examples of the Apostle Paul’s physical ailments. I remember hearing of his “thorn in the flesh” when I was a child. There wasn’t much for a first grader to do in south Texas in the 60′s. I liked to break the prickles off my mom’s roses and [...]

Continue reading about Was Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh” Multiple Sclerosis?


Rick on September 12th, 2007

I was working in a closet filled with network hardware and cables when my cell phone vibrated on my hip. I answered and heard my 8 year old daughter say, “Daddy, Mommy fell and is bleeding on her head.” “Is she okay? How bad is she bleeding, Sweetie?” I ran to the stairs. “Sissy is [...]

Continue reading about The Doctor said, “He can stay.”


Rick on September 11th, 2007

Six New Dawn roses cover a pergola I built for my wife a few years before her MS diagnosis. If I had known then what we know now, I would have built it much closer to the house. My wife loves roses and living out of town as we do, we have a yard large [...]

Continue reading about Over-watered Roses Do Not Thrive