It has been a few months since my last update. There has been no real Neurological improvement since December. I can definitely state I am stronger, due to Physical Therapy. We say, “If I am not crawling out afterwards, either he, or me, didn’t do our job!”
I am beginning to get a handle on the actual neurological damage that has occurred. Some, I am still not sure of the possible recovery of some areas. I know I have to be honest with myself, and with the Therapist and my wife. I like to keep her in the loop also because she is still my “Grounding Strap”.
I completed all my Rituximab follow-ups (Boosters) via Intravenous (IV). I am now at 16+ months and it does feel good to know I am no longer going to deplete and have to recover from compromising my immune system. (That is what Rituximab does). I know I am continuing to move forward with my therapy and strength. I can actually see a day when I will be able to increase my balance, which is my biggest obstacle to walking. That being MS walking of course. I have also begun doing Planks and my ability to do sit ups is returning.
Some people will understand this, and some will have it go flying over their heads. My core, abs that is, have been my most “vain” area. I have a gut right now. I have never had one before. Not being able to do the abdominal exercises needed to get rid of it, has been rough for me. Regaining this ability is great. I will enjoy watching my gut disappear!
I have also allowed a few of my friends, who are Ex. military to finally talk me into visiting a VA representative. I went on Monday, 20 March, to talk with them. They have asked why I did not come to them before now? I told them I did not want to appear to be a person coming to them just to get money. I was told that a number of veterans have all types of physical disabilities which did not present themselves for years. They stated, as long as I go in with honesty and integrity, this is something I need to do. They restated a truism which hits my heart. I wrote the check when I signed up. I was in for 12 yrs with an 6 month break. I was told to just go through the process. What happens, happens. So until my next update, Nothing but love for all my readers.
MAR
2017
About the Author:
A little about myself: I was born Carl Levon Jones in Conway hospital in 1959 to Hazel Elizabeth Jones. I am the third of four children. My mother never married. This today would be normal but in the old days, it was different. Maybe it was the beginning of the change in view. I was raised by my grandparents from the age of 1 when we moved to Maryland. My mother was still a big part of my life, as she and a few sisters had moved to New York to try to make a living instead of the depressed south. I lived and grew up with my grandparents, brother and sister and cousins until I entered the military at 19 years of age. I spent 12 years in the Army learning to be an electronics technician, just to have computers take over the industry. I, therefore, had to relearn electronics with computers being the main focus. No, I am not talking Windows and Microsoft, but Fortran and different flavors of UNIX creating GUIs. I rose through the IT Field from the bottom, to be a Manager at different DOD Contractors. I was married to my wife, Patt in 1981. We have been together ever since, 38yrs. We had one son, Carl Levon Jones II the following year while still serving in the military. I am a man who believes strongly in family and relatives. I am as close to Patt’s family as I am to my own. Closer in some cases. Unfortunately, my rise in IT was interrupted when I contracted the Autoimmune Disease, Multiple Sclerosis in 2012, diagnosed in 2013. I had to leave work in late 2014. I have been dealing with the nerve damage(Neurological) the disease caused. I went to Clinica Ruiz in Puebla, Mexico for a procedure called Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT). It is not offered for my type of MS PPMS in the United States. A battle we have been fighting for some time now. This Blog is about my; MS Journey, my thoughts (Poetry) throughout the years, my experiences and my friends and family (Photo Gallery). Hopefully, this Blog will help at least one person in their decision to conquer the MS Beast, and help to get this procedure available in the United States and covered by the Insurance we pay so much for.