PeopleWithMS.com

Things are fine in Holland after a 6 month house move-in and renovation.

Check out Steve's Vacation in Spain

After a life time of moving around doing various jobs I finally settled in 1982 working where I do now on the ferries that sail between the North of England (Hull) to The Netherlands or maybe better known as Holland sailing into Rotterdam well actually west of Rotterdam (Europort) as a dj, and in them days as the only entertainment onboard as well, anything up to 1250 passengers in one night, needless to say I had many a good night.

It was in 1984, somewhere at the start of it that I started getting balance problems, actually the very start of any problems started way back in 1980 when I had what is now known as optical neuritus for a few weeks but after four weeks of injections everyday for two weeks then every other day for two weeks it was ok again, anyway back to the balance problem, something even more worrying with working on a rocking ship and a ship much smaller than the one I am on today, she did rock a lot, once again after some medication (capsules) for a few months (cannot remember which now) the problem got better again, somehow when you are self employees you seem to push yourself harder.

In 1985 I got lucky and got employed by the ferries as a barmen (a real job with all the insurance cover and benefits) which worked out right having just met my future wife Annemiek and was moving to live in Holland everything did work out for another five years when in 1990 while working behind the bar one night I lost all strength and energy and could just go no further, it was in March, spring had arrived "and I was ill" after two months of this and that, (CT scan,MRI, blood tests etc) I heard her say "I thing you have a mild sort of MS" yeah right, and what now?? even though I had been in nursing and knew of MS it was still a shock, a big shock, I even had an aunty that died with it (no blood relation).

OK life and MS right, well life goes on, after some time in hospital for my introduction to Prednisone and the five day IV to everybody's amazement I was fighting fit to go back to work on the ship, was I gonna let MS come between me and a good job I had waited years, like hell I was!! in fact (after their shock) I was helped very much, ok the bar was no-go (all the walking) but The Shop (duty free as it was then) cigarettes and drink, well it was till work during the night, so on a rocking ship, sat down hey, no problems there, and stores during the day while in dock to keep them muscles trim, yes I could live with that I think.

The job lasted 2-3 years before a better one came up in the office working night shift, more responsibility, a higher function and more money, yeah why not, who says MS can be a door closer rather than a door opener?? or maybe I was just lucky, I don't know but here I am (still) working nights on the biggest ferry in the world (anno 2001) working the front desk on nights doing a two weeks on and a two weeks home rota.

The MS hasn't changed or even changed me, I have always been positive about things including life, what will be, will be, I started in 1990 with progressive but after getting a heavy attack in December 2002 the neurologist started me on daily Copaxone injections (not scared of needles) I am please to say, he also re-graded my MS to R/R and now it is as I write this March 2004, the MS seems suppressed, Copaxone seems to be doing what it is supposed to do and me, well as always just getting on with life and enjoying what I can do the best way I can, life is fun, life can be fun, make the best of it and be positive........

MS hasn't opened many doors for me, neither has it closed any on me, but as far as I am concerned, the sky is still the limit and anything is possible, try and overcome what you cannot do but try to do what you think you can do, I have met many lovely people from around the world who I am pleased to say now consider me a friend and sometimes an inspiration, I them too, I feel with help and technology, the world is getting a smaller place distance wise friends and contacts are getting closer, cherish that friendship, you might be glad of it one day even for just having someone to talk to.

Steve's Jobsite

Steve's Border Collie

"Guitar" Steve

Steve at work