PeopleWithMS - Stories & Pictures

SFMark

In November of 07, I lost consciousness and was in a coma for 3 days, then was told I had a stroke.I was hospitalized for one month. Upon release I was able to walk 3-4 miles before tiring, and MS had not been diagnosed as of yet, I was able to take buses around and for a shot period i seemed to be recovering nicely, I was able to shop for myself etc. Then the falling, freezing of the legs began. around February of 08 i was given the MS diagnosis, and that i would be able to live a somewhat normal life using copaxone. Relapsing/remitting was the call, these last 6 months it seems to relapse only. Yesterday the MRIs shown no progression of lesions and yet my condition grows worse. The spinal MRI shows 2 compressed discs narrowing my spinal cord and I will be seen at the spine center soon. My strongest ally is my hope as i am fortunate to live in San Francisco close to the bio tech center of the country, We have many stem cell research centers, and UCSF hospital has all the latest meds. To me hope, good doctors, and hope keep me going, as well as this site.

My sponsor told me a week ago that we had to go for "the drive". I didn't know....Mt. Tamalpias? The Botanical Gardens? Fisherman's Wharf ? So he picks me up at 6:30 this evening and we jump on the freeway heading to downtown S.F. It's dark and raining. We pass City Hall and I am still befuddled as to our destination. He makes a right turn on O'Farrell St. and I'M thinking WTF??? We go to the "epicenter"....O'Farrell and Jones Street. W....T.....F ?!!? He parks and says "here we are". We got out and walked . Thankfully this guy is an ex ultimate fighter. We look like cops or just 2 dumb white guys. We walk by the crack dealers and users and he tells me to look into their eyes....look at their faces. We smell weed....crack...and other smells I never smelled....PCP he tells me. I'M thinking,..."this is dangerous walking right up to them all and looking at their expressions, demeanor...sunken faces...missing teeth...dealers huddled together, some asking is they "could help us?" Cops begin to swarm ....busts happening... yet it doesn't really phase the users as they continue smoking...the dealers step into the lobby's of the hotels. He asks me what I saw in their faces. I saw pain. We don't look down upon them. We were there at one point in our lives. Some will certainly die. Others will be incarcerated. The lucky few we may meet someday in a much better place. Below...some daytime pictures of the T.L. Mark