2009 Bruce McCulloch winning Story

OUR STORY WITH MS

Last month my husband Pat and I celebrated our 60^th wedding anniversary. Yes with diamonds, children, siblings and friends. As is usual now a' days we had a long power point presentation of scenes from our years together. Things to laugh at, sad things and all to reminisce over.

There is not anything so very remarkable about that event except that I have had MS since I was twenty years of age. We are now in our eighties. Mathematical minds will have worked out that I have had it for sixty two years.

We were lovers when the tragedy happened; tragedy it was for I couldn't see, walk or move very much. A neurologist in Melbourne told my parents and, indirectly, Pat, that they should take me home and that I would die in a few months time.

True lover that he was, Pat remained faithful, and visited me in hospital every night and later when I was at home, with my sister taking care of me. One night he arrived at the hospital with some diamond rings in his pocket. I chose one and we announced our engagement; I think to the consternation of our parents. How could I hope to become a wife and mother in my condition? Time went on and I gradually went into remission and was able to walk down the aisle on my father's arm.

Life has been good to us. There have been happy times, fun times, worrying times but always loving times. MS has been a hindrance sometimes, an excuse at others, but always there to be coped with. Coped with it we did. There was no disability assistance as there is today, but when I couldn't walk Pat picked me up and carried me. However there was dancing, working travel, sport and fun. Seven children came along to grace our lives and brighten our old age. Our many grand children keep us alert to modern life and we enjoy their visits.

Now I have a motorized wheel chair and can whiz around the house and garden to my heart's content. MS is a life sentence but it can be what you make of it; most, like us, can look back on the good times with contented smiles.

Maureen Bourke Warnambool