My life before this monster of MS came to be known to me. I spent 6 years in the Marine Corps, (Jul1986-jul1992). I’ve raised my two kids on my own since jul1997 wife decided the grass was greener on the other side of the fence. So I spent many evenings taking my daughter to ballet classes and football games (cheerleading). My son playing golf then hunting and fishing every moment we got. I found myself working as a machinist after getting out of the military. This career has provided a good home and gave me the opportunity to send both my kids to prominent private schools in the area.IE both my kids were gifted students and the public schools in the area wouldn’t provide them with the educational needs they so deserved. I now work for a major aircraft manufacturer in the area building wide body jetliners.
I was diagnosed February 1, 2012. It was a bit of a traumatic event. On my way to work, I had sudden double vision and when I had gotten to work I was limping and dragging my feet and was numb from my head to my foot on my right side. When I saw the nurse on staff, she thought I was having a stroke or TIA. She ordered an ambulance because she wouldn’t let me drive to the hospital myself, lost that augment I’m used to doing things on my own. When in the ER, the ER doctor ordered the MRI’s to check where I was having the stroke or TIA. Then the ER doctor admitted me for observation. Later that evening he came and told me, he had some good news and some bad news. He said” the good news was, I didn’t have a stroke or TIA. The bad news was, after reviewing the MRI’s and consulting with the neurologist, I have MS and that I was experiencing a clinical exacerbation. He was surprised how well I took the news. I explained I knew something was wrong with me for years just could never put a finger on it.
When I finally got to meet my neurologist we found an instant connection. He was from Iran and took part in the seven year Iraq/Iran war and me a Gulf War Vet and our both dislike of Saddam Hussein. He was surprised to learn I was in the port of Al Jubal when a scud missile self-destructed just before impact in the port and the warhead landed roughly 150 meters in the water from where I was on the dock and the falling debris all around me and the ships. He then asked if I had been to the VA and I told him I’ve been there several times over the years and got the same response every time. They would tell me nothing was wrong with me and thank you for your service and have a nice day. They were only accepting service connected injuries or my income was too high. So I would just suck it up and get on with my life
I was diagnosed February 1, 2012. It was a bit of a traumatic event. On my way to work, I had sudden double vision and when I had gotten to work I was limping and dragging my feet and was numb from my head to my foot on my right side. When I saw the nurse on staff, she thought I was having a stroke or TIA. She ordered an ambulance because she wouldn’t let me drive to the hospital myself, lost that augment I’m used to doing things on my own. When in the ER, the ER doctor ordered the MRI’s to check where I was having the stroke or TIA. Then the ER doctor admitted me for observation. Later that evening he came and told me, he had some good news and some bad news. He said” the good news was, I didn’t have a stroke or TIA. The bad news was, after reviewing the MRI’s and consulting with the neurologist, I have MS and that I was experiencing a clinical exacerbation. He was surprised how well I took the news. I explained I knew something was wrong with me for years just could never put a finger on it.
When I finally got to meet my neurologist we found an instant connection. He was from Iran and took part in the seven year Iraq/Iran war and me a Gulf War Vet and our both dislike of Saddam Hussein. He was surprised to learn I was in the port of Al Jubal when a scud missile self-destructed just before impact in the port and the warhead landed roughly 150 meters in the water from where I was on the dock and the falling debris all around me and the ships. He then asked if I had been to the VA and I told him I’ve been there several times over the years and got the same response every time. They would tell me nothing was wrong with me and thank you for your service and have a nice day. They were only accepting service connected injuries or my income was too high. So I would just suck it up and get on with my life
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