It Takes Time.

El Sueno.
Angel Planells.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Planells

It’s amazing how much time it’s taken me to come to terms with my diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in July 2006, what a shock that was.

July 2006 I walked 15 minutes down the Prinsengracht, to the hospital, which was at the end of my street, for the result of my MRI, probably the last time I walked anywhere.

 On 20 November I became an inpatient at the Rehabilitation Clinic, the reason they admitted me, was because I had been stuck indoors in virtual isolation for months.


On entering the Clinic on a Wednesday I was immediately given a wheelchair, after 3 days using the wheelchair I could no longer use my walker on my first weekend at home.


Being at the Rehabilitation Clinic for a month was good as it took me out of my isolation; sadly I went back to that isolation again after a month of being among people.

Then it took another 6 months for us to finally get an apartment with a lift, in May 2007, we took it, but sadly when we moved in, it became clear that I could no longer use keys’
‘

That meant I would not be able to come and go independently, now I needed an escort to go out, who would open the door.

I also needed help opening my bag, purse, followed by help in pushing me up the road, my arm muscles had weakened after a being shut up at home for so long.


I had not been able to go any where since April 2006, although I had somehow managed to get myself to and from work until June 2006.