Journal Volume 1 - January 2006
Article 49
Support Groups: Alaska Greetings from Anchorage, Alaska. I’ve seen the TM occurrence rate of 1 in 1.34 million skyrocket in the past few months. Considering that Alaska’s population is approximately 600,000, one case of TM in Alaska more than satisfies the odds. As of January 2005, I’ve received calls from four people who are newly diagnosed with TM. In addition, the last time I was up at the hospital visiting a 14-year old boy who was just diagnosed with TM, the nurse on his rehabilitation wing told me that there were five other people in his wing that had TM. Also, the nurse’s niece in California had also been diagnosed with TM. Is TM raining from the sky? Is TM becoming more frequent? I know there are no answers, but the number of people with TM appears to be growing. What can we do to be a source of support for each other? Due to Alaska’s large geographic nature, our support group does not meet regularly. We are a source of support to each other via internet, telephone, and visits and provide information to people who are searching for answers. It is comforting to be able to talk to someone who has been down the road you are going on and share experiences, laugh at oddball symptoms, and feel that you are not alone. We may be unique in that we are all one in a million, but we don’t have to feel isolated and confined to our own space. Reach out and touch someone; whether it is to ask for help, listen to someone and what they are going through, offer your own experiences, or encourage someone. There appears to be no magic bullet for curing TM at the present time. However, our attitudes are a key component to continuing our life after onset. We choose how we are going to live despite circumstances that may be spiraling out of control. I believe attitude is so important and continue to be amazed at the fighting spirit in the people I talk to. Quitting is not an option. We continue to adapt and keep on keeping on the best that we can. This is easier some days than others, but the important thing to remember is to keep on pressing on. Take care of yourselves and know that you are not alone! Jennifer LeMay |