MS Maze

A Guide Through the Maze of Multiple Sclerosis and Health Policy Issues

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Huffing: The Fatal Consequences of Ignorance

Children have been warned to “just say no to drugs” and told the dangers of illegal substance abuse, but more kids are getting high by huffing legal substances than by marijuana, cocaine, and hallucinogens combined. And they are often doing right in their own homes. The aerosol cleaner used to clean...

Inside the Maze 3/12/10

On Writing One of my favorite television shows of all time is The Dick Van Dyke Show. There is a particular episode that sprang to mind this week and, thanks to hulu.com, I was able to revisit it. The episode centered around Rob’s desire to fulfill his lifelong dream of completing a...

Health Care: Who’s Stalling, Who’s Making Preemptive Strikes, Who’s Paying the Price

The federal government may be having a hard time passing health care reform, but states aren’t wasting any time with efforts to block its effects. While President Obama takes health care reform back on the road again and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sends a warning to insurers that...

Longing for Liberation

If you are steadily losing your ability to walk… to move… to remain independent… your tolerance for extended debate and controversy over a possible treatment, if not a cure, is put to the test. In this case, debate centers around “Liberation Treatment.” All around the world people with multiple sclerosis have...

Diagnosis, Denial, Due Diligence

So you’ve been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now what? Denial. My own lasted only a few brief moments. The odyssey to diagnosis was a difficult one, and I quickly embraced the sweet relief of finally having an answer. But then it hit me I have MS… I have MS… I have MS…...

Reconciliation: What Does It Really Mean Anyway?

Reconciliation can sound like a dirty word, depending upon who is doing the speaking, but the process is nothing new and is certainly not out of the bounds of normal politics. Introduced in 1974, the process of reconciliation is used when Congress issues directives to legislate policy changes in mandatory spending...

Inside the Maze 3/5/10

On National MS Education & Awareness Month Multiple sclerosis. Is that the disease that puts you in a wheelchair or leads to a nursing home? Montel Williams… Richard Pryor… Annette Funicello… all names associated with MS, and isn’t there a mountain climber or two that have it? Confused? You are not alone....

Obama’s Call to Action: Will You Answer?

What lends itself to demagoguery and political gamesmanship, misrepresentation and misunderstanding? Health care reform is the obvious answer. “But,” said President Obama, “that’s not an excuse for those of us who were sent here to lead to just walk away. We can’t just give up because the politics are hard.” The president’s...

MS: Who Gets It and Why

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)… some call it the MonSter, or the Beast. It is a demyelinating disease, an invisible illness, a mysterious ailment subject to many misconceptions. Who, what, where, when, why, how… all good questions. That’s why the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation recognizes March as National MS Education & Awareness Month, and...

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month: A Diagnosis Odyssey

Multiple sclerosis. Is that the disease that puts you in a wheelchair or leads to a nursing home? Montel Williams… Richard Pryor… Annette Funicello… all names associated with MS, and isn’t there a mountain climber or two that have it? Confused? You are not alone. That’s why the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation...