For those who have been reading my stories since 1996, many may remember how much I love to use other people’s quotations. Recently, I read one that said, “For every setback, there is a comeback.”
That certainly hit home with me. How many setbacks have I experienced since the multiple sclerosis was diagnosed in November 1990; or the seizures in 1989; and then, first not last, the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis in 1973 followed by a near-death experience with a staph infection after surgery in 1976.
I’ve often wished I had kept a journal of all the doctor appointments, hospital visits, and medications but I was so young in the beginning and like everyone else, I had no idea what the next day would bring. I expected each setback would be the last, but now I know that tomorrow is unpredictable.
There may be a plethora of setbacks yet to come; in the past, there has always been a “comeback.” I do believe that each setback takes a little something away and nothing is ever quite the same; a little something is lost.
It continues to require a little bit more “stick-to- it-iveness” to work towards that comeback.
Some days I seem to be too tired and sleepy to accomplish much. I never thought I would see the day that I would have watched as much television as I did during this past winter. Maybe that is part of this comeback…I have been watching the History Channel, weather stories, National Geographic and many stories based on true events. These have been learning experiences even though I can’t always remember everything I learned — that’s those MS moments!
Even though my body isn’t doing the way I want it to, my mind is still alert to some interesting facts. I’ve learned to use the internet and I’ve made thousands of cards for our soldiers at war to send home to family and friends.
I went out less and less during the cold winter. Sometimes it seems to take more energy than I possess to get ready to travel like I did from 1996-2002. I had to make one of the hardest decisions when I decided to have my name removed from the Christian Women’s Club speaker’s list. Distance traveling is becoming harder and I certainly do not want to end up in a hospital or rehab unit outside of Rowan County; that would be a major inconvenience for my family and friends. But I pray that I will still have chances to speak locally! So if you need a speaker, you can email me at lindainthecards@gmail.com. Once again, that would be a MAJOR COMEBACK for ANOTHER SETBACK.
Linda Beck is a local writer who lives in Woodleaf.