MS Journey: A Day of Unexpected Challenges

Yesterday, I took the time to mow the backyard, knowing rain was on the way and the grass had gotten too tall. Sure enough, it rained overnight. This morning, once the grass dried out a bit, I needed to tackle the front yard before heading to my first appointment of the day. 

My original plan included a stop by the gym and pool, hoping for some relaxation and exercise. Unfortunately, no one wanted to join me, and I was too fatigued to go alone. My anti-fatigue medication wasn’t doing its job today—maybe I needed a higher dose, or perhaps it was just the weather weighing me down. Instead, I made brunch, checked in on everyone at home, and headed out for my preoperative appointment.

Thankfully, the appointment went smoothly. I was cleared and ready for surgery in a couple of days. Once back home, I ensured the kids were all doing well before heading out to mow the front lawn. But what was supposed to be a peaceful, relaxing chore turned stressful when the neighbor—let's call him “Mr. Exquisite”—decided to mow his lawn at the same time.

I had hoped to enjoy the cool weather, listening to birds chirping, and watching bees and butterflies flutter by. Instead, I found myself keeping my head down, avoiding eye contact, and trying to finish as quickly as possible. The tension was palpable, and as soon as I was done, I headed inside to escape the situation.

Later, I heard the sound of a grass trimmer and watched as Mr. Exquisite trimmed along the property line. To my surprise, he went beyond the boundary, cutting the line and then going into his garage to get a tool to snip it further. This wasn’t just an annoyance; it’s a situation that will require a surveyor to come and reset everything. I made myself available, thinking he might want to discuss what had happened and how he planned to fix it, but he remained silent, finishing his work and heading inside without a word.

I knew I needed to document the incident, so I called dispatch once more to ask for assistance. Just as I was trying to move on from the situation, my daughter’s friends came over to invite her for a game. As she was getting ready, Mr. Exquisite and his dog appeared again, and I could hear their discontent as I walked her a few houses down the road. This time, though, I’m taking action and getting the assistance needed to address the issue.

But enough about that. As my daughter played with her friends, I returned home to make dinner for the kids. The house filled with the sound of their laughter and joy, and my little one was by my side, helping as best as he could. His chin is still swollen and bruised from his recent injury, and it breaks my heart every time I check his stitches or apply antibacterial ointment. Yet, despite everything, he remains resilient, with no complaints about the pain. He’s only asked for pain medication once during the day. 

As adults, we might be overwhelmed by the pain, but my little guy takes it in stride, showing his smile, giving hugs, and playing like the champion he is. His strength is a reminder that even on the toughest days, there’s always a reason to keep going.