This past April I received a call from a close client of mine for the past 15 years. His name is Richard he’s 49 years old and owns a car repair shop.

He started out the call very unlike any call before, Hey Bob- are you a church going man?I replied, Sure Richard I am.

At an instant I became a friend and not a tax advisor to his car repair shop.

Richard than explained to me that he had a type of skin cancer called melanoma

Richard was diagnosed with this skin cancer 11 year’s ago, and it was removed and assumed a no longer threat to Richard health.

Doctors were positive that they had taken care of the problem until recently when Richard started having problems with his lungs. Eleven years later Richard found out this his cancer was not gone it had spread to his lungs and brain. Richard’s first surgery was to remove 10-20% of the lungs on both the right and left side. The next treatment would be an interferon. Fortunately for Richard there would be no chemo or radiation. Everything looked positive and Richard would get back to his normal life until last week.

Richard’s wife found him unconscious in bed. He was rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered a tumor pressing on his brain. The skin cancer doctors removed 11 years ago had taken over and spread to his brain.

Yesterday the doctors told him that his chance of survival with this type of advanced cancer was near zero. From thriving man at age 49- husband, father of two children to terminal cancer patient in eight months.

The magnitude of this is hard to understand. But I still have hope that the human body with the right belief in healing can overcome even this. My prayers go out to Richard and I ask for yours as well.

If all this wasn’t enough I had a conversation with Richard’s father yesterday. In offering my comment that my thoughts were with him and his son he informed me that his family had been thinking of me as well. At a time like this they are still thinking of me and my MS. We are all connected in this world in a special way.

I am humbled that this family can still think of me when their situation seems so much worse then my issues with MS. Please pray for this family and wish them peace.

So, when looking at the title of this blog post, When Multiple Sclerosis is a Blessing many of us think of MS as a curse, but I would rather have MS than be my friend who has cancer.

Robert Groth is the author of “Conquer Multiple Sclerosis”. To receive a FREE ebook on reclaiming your life and conquering Multiple Sclerosis go to http://www.ConquerMS.com

I’m so glad the holidays are almost over, we can get back to reality and maybe the news will get on to something more positive. Enough of this negativity, doom and gloom and my gosh the world is falling down all around us.

I’m here to tell you it’s not, not by a long shot.

So let’s not wait any longer and discuss the 1st thing you can do right in improving your multiple sclerosis and mental outlook for 2009.

1. Turn off the News. Give yourself a healthy break from all the bad things being said on the news. You may not realize it, but the news honestly puts you in a fearful state of mine. Fearful of other people, the economy, the stock market, and believe it or not the weather. I’m sorry folks; the news is exaggerated to the highest degree. We are all going to die tomorrow and not make it another day. And a snow storm will wipe us all out. (In my state this may be true). Watching the news puts you in a state of negativity and anxiety (and yes MS and anxiety are bad, bad, bad).

2. Do Something Wonderful for Yourself. Aah. I’m thinking right now of the perfect get away. massage. One hour of release, relaxation, and no anxiety!

Or maybe for you it’s a trip to the movie theater, or the shopping mall, or lunch with a wonderful friend. Be nice to yourself, and look at yourself with kind eyes. If you don’t who will? Make yourself a goal of not treating yourself badly because you have MS.

3. Create a list of goals you wish to achieve this year. My friends, sit down and relax.

Think about what you want to do this upcoming year and the most important think about how you’re going to do it. Create goals on improving your disability, maybe its issues with balance, sight, or perhaps anxiety, depression. Folks, there are books you can read about relieving anxiety and exercises for improving balance, leg spasms, and the list goes on. Post these clear and written goals in a place you can see them daily. Remind yourself each day of these goals- this is so important and why most people don’t achieve their goals- THEY FORGET Structure your goals on improving yourself and reclaiming your life from multiple sclerosis.

4. Create a Mission Statement for Your Life: Who are You- have you ever asked that question? A good mission statement should be no more than a single sentence long, it should be understood by a twelve year old, and you should be able to be recited at gun point. A great book I suggest is The Path, Creating Your Mission Statement For Work and For Life.

Last but not least, (and it’s not even in my list) make a choice to improve yourself and start it by reading. I can’t say enough about how all the books I’ve read that have brought me out of the well of multiple sclerosis. Make a choice in 2009 to move on and reclaim your life.

Robert Groth is the author of “Conquer Multiple Sclerosis”. To receive a FREE e book on reclaiming your life and conquering Multiple Sclerosis go to http://www.ConquerMS.com

You’re out walking on an absolutely beautiful day, sun’s shining and you just couldn’t ask for anything else. Your body temperature starts to increase while you’re out enjoying yourself and guess what happens, your MS symptoms act up and you start feeling worse. Those lovely leg’s God gave you have decided that they no longer want to walk.
And you’ve started the battle of mind over matter. Your mind says; lets go I’m not stopping. Your legs say, sorry dude we are done for today. Frustration sets in and you know what’s next.

There is a solution for this problem, its wearing clothing that cools you. Especially designed clothing, vests, hats, and cushions that contain gel packs that can be frozen and refrozen in order to keep you cool. So if you’re a hot number, we’ve got you covered!

Here are the companies that sell cooling apparel and how to purchase their products.

Cooling Vests: These items are the most popular and vary in designs using ice packs. Some vests even use batteries; it’s like having your own portable air conditioner. Your goal here is to lower your body temperature in hopes of continuing that activity or beautiful day you’re experiencing. Amazon has a great selection of cooling vests with a price range for everyone’s budget.

SteelVest- Ice Pack Vest: Uses refreezable ice packs that you place in compartments in the vest. Each pack lasts a few hours. Very simple to use.

Ice Pack Vest: These vests use evaporation to cool the body- just add water and wear.

First Line Technologies: Used by firefighters, these vests use water or chemical reactions to absorb heat. I prefer the ice pack style; these vests do not lower your temperature as much as those.

Artic Heat Chemical Cooling Vest: Also uses a chemical compound and does not use a freezer pack or batteries.

Swimming: The best exercise for MS, keeps you cool. Here’s a way to bring swimming to your home with Endless Pools.

Misting Fans: You’ve seen them at Disneyland now you can bring them to your home. Misting fans can lower an outside temperature by as much as 20 degrees. You stay dry but the temperature is much cooler.

Hats, Neck Wraps, Pillows, and Cushions: Giving you limited relief and adding cooling effects to body parts.

Active Cooling Vests: The most effective cooling device you can get, they use a combination of water, ice and batteries. Made for long term cooling.

Robert Groth is the author of “Conquer Multiple Sclerosis”. To receive a FREE ebook on reclaiming your life and conquering Multiple Sclerosis go to http://www.ConquerMS.com

Please enjoy this book review The Juice Lady’s Guide to Juicing for Health by Cherie Calbom.
I’ve always been a lover of fresh juice. There’s no comparison to a fresh squeezed glass of orange juice compared to that stuff you buy in a jug.

The less man has his fingers in it the better it tastes.

No one will deny the benefits that fresh juice has compared to it’s counterparts in the canned juice aisle but did you ever think that fresh juices could heal you from disease?

That’s a question to ponder and one we will address with the review of The Juice Lady’s Guide to Juicing for Health.

Do you want to lose weight? Get rid of cellulite? Looks years younger? How about improving your health? Do you want to do your part to recover from a disease or illness? Countless scientific studies have proven that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can vastly improve your fitness and vitality, promote weight loss, boost your energy levels, fight the effects of again, and enhance your general well-being?

Cherie’s book begins with her life story. At the age of 30 she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Cherie suffered from never ending flu symptoms, pain, and feeling lethargic. Along with that she suffered hypoglycemia and Candida albicans (systemic yeast infection). In turn she felt hopeless, sick, and just plain spent. Cherie concluded that this was one of her most discouraging times of her life.

Cherie found no clear answers from the medical community and decided to take matters into her own hands.

Taking a trip to the health store determined that she was eating poorly and not providing her body the nutrients it needed to heal and gain energy. She learned the energizing benefits of juicing and the healing restorative power of detoxification. Cherie than determined that there was something she could do for her health.

Armed with a juicer she moved to Colorado and made her health the #1 priority. She began a detoxification diet, daily juicing, and vegan eating (consume no beef or chicken).

Initially Cherie felt worse from her changes in diet, but magically one morning she felt improved.

But one morning, without warning. I woke up early feeling brand-new, with so much energy I wanted to go jogging. I felt as if someone had given me a new body. I thought,Wow! That was the best cure on earth. I realized that freshly made vegetable juices, veggie smoothies, lots of raw foods, periodic cleansing, and a nutritious, whole-foods diet was a lifestyle I could follow to produce the health I wanted.

The Juice Lady’s Guide to Juicing for Health than proceeds with a long list of diseases and illness which of course include multiple sclerosis.

Cherie explains the disease, lifestyle recommendations, diet recommendations, nutrient recommendations, herb recommendations, and lastly juice therapy and juice recipes.

This book has excellent information but it is life changing and a long term commitment. You won’t see changes over night, but I assure you all the work will be well worth it.

Lastly Cherie end’s her book with detoxify and cleaning routines. Kidney Cleanse, liver cleanse, colon cleanse. What I like about the detox diet is that all recipes for cleansing are given to you in the book. There is no need to buy anything besides healthy fruits and vegetables. There is no worry as to what you might be putting into your body and what they outcome might be.

Robert Groth is the author of “Conquer Multiple Sclerosis”. To receive a FREE ebook on reclaiming your life and conquering Multiple Sclerosis go to http://www.ConquerMS.com

I’ll be honest with you from the start; this is a very touchy subject for me. One attached with emotion and anger. This is especially sensitive issue because my employer/boss is also my parent. Yes, I (used to work) for my mom and dad in a family run CPA accounting firm.

Family businesses are never easy many people will tell you.

It’s difficult to say the least when you’re dealing with your boss who is also your parent and they know you have multiple sclerosis and are completely aware of all your problems. It’s hard to hide it from your parents who of course know you very well.

The story goes as such, I started working for my parents when I was about 16 and graduated from college with a degree in accounting and human resources. Once I graduated I received a full time position with my dad’s firm, and became my mom and dad’s right hand person. You could say it was a lovey-dovey affair. Mom, dad and son working together. What more could you want.

This went on for 12 years. Me working and them getting older and older. Till one day I said to my dad, what’s up with retirement?It was my assumption that I would take over the firm. Of course, I was his kid who worked faithfully for him for many years. All the clients we had were because of him and I. I had after all brought in 30-40 percent of the new clients over the past few years. I treated this business as though it was mine and it was assumed by all clients that I would take it over.

Back to that question, my dad had no answer to,what are you doing for retirement?

Till 3 months later.

My mother came into my office closed the door and said, your new boss is coming in about one hour. We’ve sold the business.

My reaction?

I felt like the fool, and thought that I was really nothing more than an employee till the very end.

Both my parents take pride in being secretive and telling no one what their plans are, not even to their own children.

Looking back at this event that happened 4 months ago I’m grateful that my parents sold their business.

Why?

Because there are so many other opportunities out there for me, one’s that are positive and not laced with anger, denial, and control. My father did me a favor he released me from a business that would be a burden. One that he created that was dependent on his and my mother’s hard work. A business that was not a team effort. This is not what I wanted.

When I asked my parents why they didn’t consider me to be the next owner it was because I had multiple sclerosis. I didn’t have the energy my dad had to make things work, to continue the business in a successful manner. They questioned on whether I would get sick and who would take over if that happened.

Crappy?

Yes

But a blessing. I didn’t want to deal with them and what they created and who they were. After the business was sold my eyes opened up as to what they believed in. And it was nothing I agreed with.

I have many opportunities awaiting me and people who love me and want me to succeed. I see this in the future and realize that all things happen for a reason.

So did I get screwed over? They short changed themselves and their son by their regimented thinking and their belief that there are no possibilities. They thought it was their way or no way and that’s just what they got. I see bright sky’s ahead and that’s all that really matters.

Robert Groth is the author of “Conquer Multiple Sclerosis”. To receive a FREE ebook on reclaiming your life and conquering Multiple Sclerosis go to http://www.ConquerMS.com

MS has a way of changing lives, some for the better and some for the worse. Any way you look at it, it’s a journey where you will change and not be the same person you were before. Lives are not stationary and neither are relationships.

When you are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis you may expect friends to say, I’m sorry or what can I do- something to that effect.

But the reality of the fact is that not everyone is understanding or willing to reach out or understand the new situation at hand.

Seeing my husband with multiple sclerosis has been a life journey, one where we have wanted to involve family and friends. But what I’ve realized is not everyone chooses to get involved with the disease.

I’ve come up with a short list of reasons why a parent, spouse, or sibling may find it a difficult to address multiple sclerosis.

Fear: Fear of the unknown and what this disease may have the capability of doing. The possibility of being in a wheel chair, not working, loss of cognitive abilities, not being the individual perhaps they recognize from before.

Parental Fault: I see this in my husband’s relationship with his mom, on some level she believes it’s her fault and she gave this disease to her son.

Mortality: A day to day reminder of how humans are not perfect and become ill. Multiple Sclerosis has a way of reminding everyone on a daily basis.

Life That Has Changed: Multiple Sclerosis changes lives. People with MS learn to adapt, there is no choice. We can’t say the same for friends of people who have MS. Common interests may no longer be available. Also people who are diagnosed with MS may drive friends away because they don’t feel worthy of the relationship anymore. Their disability interferes with who they remember themselves to be in the past.
Communication: Close friends, parents, and siblings may just not know what to say regarding a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. There is a hush that falls into the room when you enter. No one want’s to discuss the dirty word MS or offend the person who has multiple sclerosis.

The difficult part for us has been relating to Robert’s parents. Unfortunately we experience the lack of communication and the guilt that Robert’s mom feels- that she gave him this disease.

Robert Groth is the author of “Conquer Multiple Sclerosis”. To receive a FREE ebook on reclaiming your life and conquering Multiple Sclerosis go to http://www.ConquerMS.com