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"You can make it happen" |
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Jayne's Story
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This fabulous woman has done many things with her life, and this challenge
is one of her most passionate to date Jaynes Story A little background of how I became involved with the MS Society (besides the obvious.) In 1993, I took a look at my life. My dad died of cancer (which puts me at risk), my mother had high blood pressure and was a borderline diabetic and died of a heart attack (which also puts me at risk) and I was over weight and not exercising (once again at risk.) So odds weren't looking very good for me. So I joined Weight Watchers and a gym. I lost a lot of weight and was in the best shape I have ever been in my life. I enjoyed my workouts so much, that I became a fanatic. Soon to be, training year-round for walking marathons for the Leukemia Society, the Arthritis Foundation and on my own. I completed eight marathons and trained for an additional two (to help others complete their marathons) I have also completed several half-marathons and shorter races (never for competition, just for myself.) in July 2000, I was diagnosed with MS. In 2001, I joined a gym and have been trying to lose the weight that I had put on through my bad marriage and even worse divorce. I wanted to get back into marathons. I was wishing that the MS Society had marathons. In 2002, I was debating on what should I do. Should I go back to helping the Leukemia Society or should I contact the MS Society about maybe starting marathons? Then I received a brochure in the mail about the 3-day challenge. That was it! I had to do that, it's my calling! Believe it or not, when I was first diagnosed, one of my very first thoughts was, this was meant for me. To start something for the MS Society. I am not a church going person, but I do have faith and feel that this is what God had planned for me. Now,
they say every cloud has a silver lining. Well here's mine. Yes I
have MS, but MS does not have me. The first year of me being
diagnosed, I was in denial. Yes I knew I had MS, but I didn't feel that I
had the right to any support, because for the most part, I was healthy.
There are a lot of people out there that truly need the support. So
after a year, I decided to buy a computer so I could do research on MS and get
online support. I met a lot of great people all over the United States on
one of the MS sites and have made friends that I will have for life.
I hope to meet them all in person one
day. Because of buying a computer, I decided to join one of the
online single's websites. I met a few people that way. One day, I
received an email from someone who lives in Australia and comes to the
States every couple of years. I thought it was kind of cool to have a
pen-pal in another country and maybe meet him someday when he is here or
if I was to go there. This was Malcolm.
One more good thing that has
happened because of me being diagnosed with MS. I had switched doctors
and needed a referral to a specialist. The head nurse called me to ask
about it. It turned out that she was the little girl that had lived next
door to me, that my mother took care of until her parents came home from
work. I will never lose touch with her again! So, as you can see,
a lot of good has come out of me having MS. Of course, I would rather not
have it, but this is the hand that I was dealt, so I will deal with
it. |
Jayne the love of Malcolms life, has MS............does
it stop her, hell no !
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