Chain Reaction: Meet Linda

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Meet Linda

I've been thinking about my old Therapist Linda who helped guide me through the early days of my MS diagnosis. (In my story here - I tell how she was like an angel to me and had MS herself)

Well I decided I would google her today to see if I could find anything on her and I just happened to find THIS article. Please read it. She is inspiring!

2 comments:

Lisa Emrich said...: What a nice thing Kristen did for both her mother and the research department. Very cool Lanette. It's obvious that Linda is very special to you.

Hope you have a great New Year.; December 28, 2008
Jen said...: I absolutely treasure my therapist, Lanette. Yours is in great hands at the University of Penn (renowned for its neurological department.) She definitely deserves it!; December 28, 2008

For those who don't know MS first hand - An Important Excerpt from Wikipedia on MS:

The person with MS can suffer almost any neurological symptom or sign, including changes in sensation (hypoesthesias and paraesthesias), muscle weakness, muscle spasms, or difficulty in moving;^[15] difficulties with coordination and balance (ataxia);^[15] problems in speech (dysarthria) or swallowing (dysphagia),^[16] visual problems (nystagmus, optic neuritis, or diplopia),^[17] fatigue, acute or chronic pain,^[18]^[19] and bladder and bowel difficulties.^[19]^[20] Cognitive impairment of varying degrees and emotional symptoms of depression or unstable mood are also common.^[21]^[22] The main clinical measure of disability progression and symptom severity is the Expanded Disability Status Scale or EDSS.^[23]

Multiple sclerosis relapses are often unpredictable, occurring without warning and without obvious inciting factors. Some attacks, however, are preceded by common triggers. Relapses occur more frequently during spring and summer.^[24] Infections such as the common cold, influenza, or gastroenteritis increase the risk of relapse.^[25]^[26] Stress may also trigger an attack.