Published: May 15, 2008 11:15 am         

Fight these diseases; you may help a loved one

Hi, I'm sure everyone has heard of these diseases, and many know at least one person with one of these diseases. I do, I have MS (multiple sclerosis), friends with MS and Parkinson's disease and know of people who had and died with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).

They can strike at a very early age or 30s, 40s, 50s or in some cases even older. I was finally diagnosed with MS at age 54. After many trips to numerous physicians and neurologists. I thought I was losing my mind. I was actually relieved when Dr. Dey (a fine neurologist in Cumberland) listened, he believed my symptoms and performed the appropriate tests. In 2005 I received the diagnosis.

Since I have doubled the amount of lesions on my brain and symptoms slowly worsening. And Parkinson's isn't very nice! Talk to someone you know who has it and let them tell you what it is like. And ALS, horrific also.

You may want to know there are many in Allegany County that suffer. Please listen to your friend, co-worker or family member. And for goodness sake don't look at them like they are crazy. Just because we "look good." We feel like crap, me 99.9 percent of the time. But I carry my day with a smile and faith in my heart.

Go to the national MS society, Parkinson's disease and ALS sites on the Internet or go to your library. And help us fight these diseases. It could be someone you love that you may help. Get involved. God Bless.

Pamela Rhodes
Florida
Former Cumberland resident