Me and My Shadow: Living with Multiple Sclerosis

Carole Mackie's story of her symptoms, her diagnosis, the progress of her disease, and the things she did; projects she took upon herself to help her come to terms with her disease is one of the best'personal story' books on MS that I have read. Because the course of her disease was so similar to my own. I feel like most people with the relapseing-remitting type of the disease need to read this book. She doesn't over dramitize, or give any technical medical rundown. She is just an ordinary working young person faced suddenly, and joltingly, with a potentially, progressively debilitating disease. How she deals with it and comes to acceptance was life-reaffirming to me. She answered the question for me: where do, and will I be able to go from here?

This is the first book that I have read that is about having and living with MS. I read a negative review from someone who had MS who thought that Carole's symptoms were not bad enough for her to complain about. Yet, there are so many of us out there who have what is most of the time a hidden disease. We look fine, but often don't feel fine. We know that next "episode" may be just around the corner and that it could take away more of the "normal" part of us. Those around you can't understand. It was wonderful to find someone who feels like me. Frightened, but determined is what I saw in Carole's spirit. I realize that those of us who suffer at a similar level as Carole are lucky, but I also know that it is not the same "me" as before and I don't like it. I, like Carole, am learning to redefine "me" and to fight this disease with all I have. Carole's story made me feel better about this newer "me" and coping with what life has dealt me. She voiced so many things that I have been feeling. I felt like I had found a friend who understood.

I enjoyed this book, and saw so much of my own symptoms, emotional reaction and trying to cope with the disability. I was interested to read about how she felt when she started getting feeling back after the numbness and thinking everything was alright. It is some comfort to know that for the most part, the same things run through our heads and we are not all alone in what we feel.I felt that her interaction with her boyfriend and her daily life was appropriate to relate to the reader, as it illustrates the emotional rollercoaster we are on, and that our relationships are affected by such a diagnosis.

As an ms'er and ex-flight attendant myself, I admire Carole's courage in every way. She reminded me of the "silent" promise I have and that is never to stop fighting, never to give up. Thank you, Carole.

Carole has done an extrodinary job. The book Me and My Shadow is, in my opinion, a "MUST READ" for anyone who is in any way faced with Multiple Sclerosis. Her story just goes to show "There is life after MS".