100 Blogs By or About Someone with Multiple Sclerosis

Today I stumbled across Brain Cheese, a blog written by a 43 year-old woman with MS living in Seattle.  In this post, she links to 100 blogs by or about someone with MS.  I spent some time going through many of these blogs and found myself listening to 100 different voices each describing their own journey through MS.  It  reminded me of how unique MS really is...if you find 100 people with MS, you're likely to find 100 different sets of symptoms. 

Reading these blogs also reminded me of how unique each one of us is.  Some of the blogs reflected the writer's depression.  Others reflected their optimism.  Some blogs reflected the fear faced by those newly diagnosed while others reflected the unwavering bravery in the face of challenges as written by those who have lived with MS for many years.

Be sure to visit Brain Cheese and scan the list of MS blogs...and remember that these 100 are only the tip of the iceberg.  There are many, many more available to you.  As you read some of these blogs, you'll identify with everything the writer is going through.  As you read others, you may find yourself feeling envious toward someone's near-invisible set of MS symptoms.  Still other blogs will make you feel as though you're the fortunate one.  And this could be the very best example of the power of the Internet to connect people across geographic boundaries, across oceans and time zones...to allow us to find a sense of community even as we labor alone. 

While each of these blogs may have its own voice and its own perspective, they all share one message in common.  We're not alone.

Comments

[Linda D.]

Jon,

I noticed in my blog "stats" that you had visited BrainCheese, so I clicked ahead and found you here! I had no idea the post I would read would include the (now) 101 MS Blog list from MY blog...

I have been busily reading through THIS blog/YOUR blog to "catch up" on your writing and have thoroughly enjoyed (albeit at times saddened) your writing style, information, and outlook about your situation and that of your wife. So often at times, being diagnosed with MS myself, I maintain a "safe" tunnel vision and somewhat self-centered view of MS without ever seeing the disease (and my MS in particular) through another's eyes...another WITHOUT the diagnosis. Your writing is a wonderful reminder and testament to that "other" view, which is so profoundly important.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with the insights you have...

Linda D. in Seattle

[Linda D.]

Forgot to mention...I also added YOUR blog to the lengthy MS Blogger list, now topping out at 102! I am hoping you will approve of this addition.

Linda D. in Seattle

[Jon Strum]

Hi Linda,

Thanks for clicking over...I'm honored to be the 101st (or 102nd) blog on your list!

As for this blog representing the perspective of someone without an MS diagnosis, while I don't have to deal with MS symptoms myself, I have to struggle with watching the person that I love bravely battle against a disease that doesn't fight fairly, knowing that I can't do a thing to shield her from even one moment of her ordeal. I guess that's why they say that MS affects families and not individuals. Each of us affected has their own perspective on living a life influenced by MS.

I hope you're successful in fighting off your case of shingles. Some things are definitely NOT worth surrendering to!

Best,

Jon