Hi luis, I'm Stacy. I became paraplegic in May of 2001 from a type of encephalitis that put me in a coma and made me a quad. I regained my upper body but from below my chest down is paralyzed. Last year I got osteomyelitis in my spinal column and had to get rods from T 7 down to my pelvis. I have had some complications and going back in for more rods. I'm in no way complaining, just letting you know a bit about me. I live in Maryland on the coast and will have my 34th bday in July. I live alone and drive a van that has hand controls and a captains chair that turns around so I can transfer into it. I am a mommy of a beautiful cat. Welcome to the list. There are people here from all "walks" of life and a ton of information is exchanged here. I hope you learn as much as I have from these informative people. Stacy
----- Original Message ---- From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, May 6, 2008 6:44:33 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] My name's Luis I live in Hoboken NJ and have Progressive MS now for about 3 years. I was dxd in 1990 but the symptoms can be traced back to 1976 July 4 Bicentennial Year, while watching the tall ships parade sailing along the Hudson river, I felt dizzy and lost vision of left eye for a few minutes, my father took me to the shade of a tree and wet papers an placed them on my head, in 15 minutes I felt some relief. I forgot about the case, began to fall specially in the subway on my way to work in Brooklyn NY. Once I fell and hit my head and side of face, stopped short of a few feet from the rails. These problems forced me to "put my papers in" after 34 years teaching at BrooklynTech HS. Is now 11 years I don't work and my condition's declined quite rapidly, can use right hand and drive short distances. Using chair 24/7 and I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE THAT SAY "WHEELCHAIR BOUND" I see the wheelchair as a liberation that allows me to move and participate whenever I feel strong enough and is not too cold and/or windy. Summer time heat and humidity are my nemesis so if you come to see there are few "perfect days" I can really enjoy. Practice a few hobbies: Amateur Radio call's N2GKI, I am a short wave listener, collect stamps with full cancellation, read avidly and at times when my head allows it I play chess, nothing spectacular. I don't force myself to do anything, I don't compromise with anybody, my time is MINE and only do what I am sure I can do w/o suffering consequences. I like to hear from other MSers, quads, paras etc. There is always something we can learn in those exchanges. Hope to hear from some, lots of Health, Luis M Méndes Hoboken NJ My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be. _____________________________________ IN SOLIDARITY 'You don't stop laughing when you get old, You get old when you stop laughing!!' LiveWell * Laugh Often * Love Much! ______________________________________________ Some people perceive our life to be almost worse than it's worth living. Condescending attitude" piss me off! _______________________________________________ ________________________________ Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
