That’s my filler phrase at home. It is the way I start a lot of conversations
at home, hoping to grab my wife’s attention for my question, idea, thought, or
conversation starter. I think that she
is starting to cringe every time she hears “Hey, Brie” because she knows what
is coming next. Something to do with MS.
Hey, Brie…
- Do you think I need to call my doctor about (fill in the MS Ailment)?
- I have another appointment tomorrow for (fill in the MS ailment)…
- My tests came back.
- I need more tests.
- I’m starting my new drugs tomorrow.
- Today is a bad day.
- Today was a good day.
Sometimes it gets to the point that every conversation is
about MS. Ailments, treatments,
appointments,… it never ends. When we go
out a lot, we’re with other MS friends or at an MS-related event or we’re just
with friends who want (or get) an update on my MS.
There comes that point in my life, usually once every year
or two, where I realize that EVERYTHING is about MS! It’s a shame because I love a lot of the
things that we do because of MS:
·
The camaraderie and friendship from our MS
support networks.
·
The accomplishment and excitement of our MS
fundraising efforts (GO TEAM AMULET!)
·
The excitement I feel when I am part of an
effort that will end this disease forever.
It’s a shame because I love all the aspects of MS support
but I absolutely hate MS. Brie gets all
the issues we live through, plus she gets my thoughts about everything. Still she supports me and the whole MS
community (on the board of the NMSS Oregon Chapter and leading our BikeMS team
every year).
I think that she’s getting gun-shy whenever I say “Hey, Brie…”. She unfortunately knows where the conversation
is headed.
Not this time. As we
putter through our daily routine and clean up from dinner, I come up behind my
wife. “Hey, Brie” I say as a wrap my
arms around her waist. “I Love You”
For a moment, MS takes a backseat to life….
For just a moment.
“Hey, Brie – I just wrote another story for the MS blog
site. Can you proofread it?”
Kevin Byrne - Portland,
OR
