There IS Hope After MS!
by Howard Klein aka xanadu

I was living in New York when I got the news I was diagnosed with MS. That was over ten years ago and I still remember the shock. I thought my life was going to come to a screeching halt.  I basically knew nothing about the disease and felt so alone.  While in my doctor's office, I came upon a website, MS Watch that I thought I would check out.

I went home and immediately went to the computer. I found myself in a chat room with others in my situation. That's when my life changed forever.

I started chatting with someone named "thinkJoy." We discussed many things that day and I felt that I wasn't so alone anymore. These online chats lasted for about a year.  They eventually led to phone conversations.  Problem was, she lived in Indiana and I in New York.  We carried on a long distance relationship for over a year.

I was falling in love with this woman who I basically only knew as a voice. I could tell she was the most wonderful woman I had ever met – or didn't meet, I guess.

Joy and I were falling for each other. We both had MS and knew exactly how each other was thinking and feeling. We understood the fear and worry in each other. I had met my soul mate.

We decided to do the impossible. Joy and her family drove the nearly 2000 miles to New York. When I first laid eyes on her, it was love at first sight. Not only was she beautiful on the outside but I knew, through our 100s of hours online, she was the same on the inside. We talked nonstop for the entire drive back to Indiana, which lasted over 20 hours.

We were married March 12, 2001. My life couldn’t be more wonderful. Sure, we have our bumps along the way, but we have each other, too. Somehow, MS has brought an amazing love into my life.  I believe that my diagnosis was God’s way of bringing Joy into my life.  She is my inspiration, my rock, my everything.

There is always a silver lining.  Joy always tells me that MS stands for “Miracle Strength.” We all have it. We just need to find it. Joy is my Miracle Strength.

God bless you all and thanks for reading our story.

 

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