Family is everything

My family have always been very close, I am the youngest of five. My biggest fear when writing this post I might upset somebody but it’s important I am true to myself and write things as I see them and accept the fact my brain fog might cloud the facts!

 

It was October 1998 that I had a bout of Optic Neuritis and then in December I had Face Drop, that was in 1998 when I was diagnosed with MS my first reaction was to tell the doctor he had got it wrong as it was my eldest sister who has MS not me. I was fortunate to have my diagnosis made quickly as that itself was enough to get me a referral to a Neurologist, shortly followed an MRI scan which revealed some pesky scars and so my diagnosis was confirmed. Some might say I was lucky that I had a confirmed diagnosis within six months but it didn’t feel like it at the time.

 

If I didn’t know it before I knew it then I had the most amazing family. My Mum struggled with the fact that two of her daughters had MS. I think those thoughts are had by many, especially mothers. Life carried on I went to my local MS Therapy Centre straight away (this is where I had an advantage as my sister was able to guide me through the early ears). Whilst working I carried on going to the Chilterns MS Centre fortnightly and because my husband also worked on a Saturday our daughter came along with me. I took the decision to tell my work and my colleagues that I had MS as I felt they would add to my network of support, I am pleased to say I wasn’t disappointed. My Mum and Dad provided childcare once a week whilst our daughter was growing up.

 

 

I continued my life of being a full time wife and mother whilst working without my mate MS making to many appearances. Fast forward six years and that has become one of my favourite memories, Christmas 2005 our friends from New Zealand came over so our household immediately went from three to seven. We all were invited by my sister to go and join them for a Boxing Day meal, that is not unusual itself but add my Brother, Sister in Law, Niece and Nephew from Denmark together with my Mum and Dad. My sister’s children and their respective other halves and suddenly we had lunch for 25!

 

I always feel close and secure when my family are around, my eldest brother and sister are also my Godparents and I am Godmother to one of my nephews and one of my nieces meanwhile my youngest brother and his wife are Godparents to our daughter so I feel we all have a really close bond.

 

Unfortunately I started to have relapses more and more after 2010 but right by my side were my family, I used to joke with my middle sister who I nicknamed the ‘well one’ as it seemed to me she was the one running around after everyone else. Both my Brothers continue to live abroad with their wives and family but we all stay in touch by social media and my brother in Denmark is able to visit a couple of times a year.

 

In the summer of 2020 (despite all the strange things happening) my Brother and Sister in Law came over from Denmark and my Dad very kindly invited my husband and I to come and stay at the same time on Hayling Island which has many static caravan sites but one particular site has an accessible caravan. It is ideal for me and my mate MS. Between my husband and my sister (the ‘well one’) they take on my personal care. My eldest sister only lives 50 minutes away so she was able to join us with her husband.   

 

 

Today for me is a difficult one as it was six years ago that my Mum passed away, family was everything to my Mum she was not a confident person and I know she found my positivity quite overbearing. Although she told me in her last few years “Julie you have mellowed and I can now relax around you” that gives me great comfort especially today.

My husband and I went to her grave today with flowers from the whole family and I had so much to tell her, I am sure she would have been pleased. My husband and I are moving to Hayling Island so we can be once again be living close with one another. Together with my Dad my sister and her husband have facilitated the purchase of a lovely ground floor flat, she is project manager and overseeing the builders who are making all the adjustments to ensure it meets my needs. Last weekend we visited them and I was able to choose from the samples the builder had left the floor and wall covering for my wet room. I really believe my Mum was listening and if she was she would hear the excitement in my voice.

Now all we need to wait for is to exchange contracts and the building work to be completed. Hopefully by early December we will start our new lives on Hayling Island and the fresh sea air will help me and my mate MS.

 

To me family is everything! ❤️❤️