Author: elsims

 

I rarely talk about my health or issues that I have because that is not the purpose of my blog. My mission will continue to be uplifting, promoting self-love and acceptance of ourselves and others. But I have been sorely absent from posting content besides my Black Facts and I have fallen off as of a couple of weekends ago So, I guess an explanation is due at this point.

As most of you know, unless you are new, I have multiple sclerosis (MS). I manage to do well with MS, but occasionally I will have an issue. I had been under the impression I was in an active relapse for a little over a month. What does that look like? A little different from past relapses. Extreme fatigue, memory loss, brain fog (hard to focus, concentrate), muscle spasms, numb toes, balance and equilibrium off, and constant tripping. A couple of other symptoms, but these are the main ones.

How does this effect me? Well, most days I realize I am scraping by, a shell of myself. Writing everything down because if you ask me a couple hours later, I will not remember. Coming home after work and doing absolutely nothing because I used all the energy and concentration I had at work. Limited activity due to issues with walking, tripping and legs feeling heavy and tired. Worst, no reading or writing.

What is the solution? A three day IV steroid treatment. The purpose of the treatment is to tamp down the inflammation that is on 10. Once treatment is completed, hopeful I will regain all of my previous abilities before this particular episode. There is a possibility it may not. It is also a possibility I’m not even having an episode and the MS has just progressed. Who the hell knows?

I actually started writing this blog post when I was receiving my second treatment. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I received my treatment. How am I now? A little better, but not as I was. So, at this point, I need to make adjustments and learn to work around my new reality. Yeah, it sucks! It really fucking sucks. Yet, I am okay. I have learned through constant reframing of my thoughts to be grateful. Grateful that even though I trip, I rarely fall. Grateful that even though my short term memory is taking a hit, my long term memory is still intact. Grateful that I have friends and family who are always there for me and praying for me.

I honestly don’t know how to completely adjust to these new changes. I am working on it though. Please be patient with me. I will be back in full force soon. I still have lots to say, it’s just getting my thoughts down on paper in cohesive sentences is the challenge. Writing is something I have always done and I always want to do so I am not giving up.

Thank you for your continued support. Thank you for your understanding. Be well and whole. Much Love 🧡 💚

For this week’s Black Fact, I am going local again. I currently am staying in Bluffton, SC which is close to Hilton Head Island. Hilton Head Island has a population of black people, Gullah, who have been here for generations. Actually, the Gullah people are descendents of enslaved Africans who stayed in the area after the end of slavery. Ben Green, a Gullah resident of Hilton Head Island, uses his gifts to teach others how to take advantage of the area they live in. Mr. Green provides a weekly, instructional lesson to children and adults on fishing and crabbing.

Ben Green is a veteran and was also a police man. He started Fishing and Crabbing with Ben Green, about 8 years ago, to help keep children out of trouble. He has been featured in multiple local magazines where he shares his history and speaks of his program. You can read about Mr. Green in Pink Magazine,

https://www.onthehookwithben.com/

and The Hilton Head Sun,

https://www.hiltonheadsun.com/saturdays-on-the-dock-a-treasured-tradition-thanks-to-green/.

Fishing and Crabbing with Ben Green is held every Saturday in the Spring, Summer and Fall from 4 pm – 6 pm. A team of volunteers help teach the children and adults and the lessons are free of charge. Gear and bait is provided, but donations are accepted and welcomed. You can find all the information for Fishing and Crabbing with Ben Green at his website On The Hook,

https://www.onthehookwithben.com.

The suggestion of highlighting Mr. Ben Green came from my coworker, Carrie. I am always looking for suggestions of little known individuals to cover for the weekly Black Fact. If you know of anyone that is making a difference in this world, on a small or grand scale, feel free to share their name with me. I would love to highlight them.

For all the moms, Happy Mother’s Day. For everyone, be well and whole. Much Love 🧡💚

Today is the last day of Autism Awareness Month. I hope that I have honored the individuals that I covered this month and that I will continue to do so on this post. The autism spectrum contains geniuses of math, science, music, art, history and even race car driving. Armani Williams, a race car driver with NASCAR, is one of those geniuses.

Del Williams and Irena Politano, parents of Armani Williams, did not know exactly what autism was when he was diagnosed at 2 years old. As most parents, they started to do their research and found out there wasn’t a lot of therapy or education for children on the spectrum. Of course, that did not stop Armani’s parents. Armani was introduced to go-kart racing at the age of 8 and as they say, the rest is history.

Armani participated in his first race car series, Canadian Tire, at the age of 17. Armani qualified for his NASCAR speedway license after placing 21st in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Gateway in 2021. He will return to NASCAR racing on May 23rd in the Texas Motor Speedway.

As always, I don’t want to regurgitate what someone else has written. I just give a tidbit. Here are a few articles I gleaned information from:

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2020/08/09/nascar-armani-williams-autism-michigan-international-speedway/3326567001/

https://www.teamarmaniracing.com/

https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-truck-series-news/69065-armani-williams-returns-to-reaume-brothers-racing-in-2022

Thank you for reading my blog posts this Autism Awareness Month. I learned about amazing individuals living on the spectrum that I never knew about and was able to share a small portion of the community with you all. May we continue to educate ourselves and stay aware throughout the rest of the year. Be well and whole. Much Love 💙 🧩