Once in Every Generation by Lauren B. Grossman

Author:Lauren B. Grossman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: multiple sclerosis, montel williams, barbra streisand, singing chicklit summer reading multiple sclerosis stagefright inspirational reading, teri garr disabilities barbra streisand phobia, lifealtering illness mentoring david lander lauren grossman
Publisher: Lauren B. Grossman

“Although there is no cure yet for MS, there are ways to fight the symptoms. There is medication you can take for fatigue. If you feel any pain or spasticity, which may manifest as a feeling of tightness, there are medications for that as well. There is a myriad of symptoms that can manifest with MS, and they always vary from patient to patient. We manage them as they come. Most important, however, is that we fight this disease at the onset. And the best way to do that is through a self-injectable medication—my nurses will train you on how to do this. There may be some initial side effects, but those tend to lessen with time.”

Lisa shook her head, as if she could make the diagnosis go away. Dr. Glassman gently patted her arm. “I’m going to give you a little time to absorb all this,” the doctor said. “But I cannot emphasize strongly enough how important it is to begin your medication to help lessen any future exacerbations.”

Lisa’s mind had wandered as Dr. Glassman spoke—she hadn’t wanted to hear the doctor’s words. Now, she stared blankly at the white walls and at the colorful laminated diagrams of the brain. Exacerbation? Injectable medication? Life-altering disease? This can’t be happening to me. Not really. The doctor must be wrong. Finally she spoke. “With all due respect, Dr. Glassman, is there any chance your diagnosis could be wrong?”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Forester, but no. I am quite certain of the diagnosis, as is the MS specialist at the Neurological Institute at UCLA with whom I consulted. I would be happy to give you her name if you’d like to speak with her. But your symptoms, along with your MRI, are classically indicative of MS. The most definitive test was the lumbar puncture.”

Lisa suddenly felt nauseated, and the air in the doctor’s office began to grow dense. She abruptly stood up. “I have to go. I have to get some air and breathe. Thank you, doctor. I’ll be in touch with you soon. I promise.”

With Rose’s assistance, Lisa limped out into the fresh air, which she inhaled deeply. Rose helped her into the waiting limousine, and the two rode in silence on the long ride home.

Suddenly, Lisa’s scream pierced the air. “Damn it! Goddamn it to hell!” Rose moved closer and put both arms tightly around the sobbing Lisa. Try as she might, Rose, too, could not hold back her tears.

*****

“It’s been a month!” Lisa moaned to Rose. “A month since I noticed the first symptoms. And I don’t feel any better.”

“Dr. Glassman said it would take that long for the symptoms to begin to diminish,” Rose reminded her. “I know it’s difficult, but be patient. You’ve said the tingling in your neck has gone away.”

Lisa nodded slowly. “Yes, but I’m still dragging my left foot, and the numbness on my left side is in my right hand as well.”

The fatigue—the lack of her usual excess energy—was the hardest symptom to accept. Before,

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