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Met up with fellow HALT-MSer in Austin

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  • Met up with fellow HALT-MSer in Austin

    I have to admit, this was pretty cool. I found Gabby by her detailed blog on HALT-MS and she was instrumental in helping me and my wife get through the procedure with invaluable nuggets of advice. We ended our e-mails with the promise of getting together if we were ever in Austin. Well, that all worked out during our year 1 trip back to Texas, so we met up for lunch.

    Her husband and one of her sons joined her at a popular local Tex-Mex joint (a half-hour wait at 1:30!) and the restaurant staff must have been surprised to see two folks hobbling around on forearm crutches. Naturally our table was in the very back. (We might have sat outside, but temps were already creeping into the 90s due to a record April heat wave.)

    Gabby's MS trajectory lines up with my experience in a number of ways. While my MS merrily burbled along for several years before it suddenly turned aggressive, hers was a fright from the start in 2007. Both of us have spinal activity that hasn't mucked much with our brains, but has walloped our legs. Both of us barely squeaked into HALT-MS by just making the 100 meter required walk (for an EDSS of 5.5).

    She entered HALT-MS about two years before me and is nearing her 3-year anniversary in July. She's doing well and there has been no disease activity or progression, but her legs are still being stubborn. Since she home schools three little boys, her access to physical therapy and time to exercise is FAR more limited than mine. So I'm making it a personal goal to return her kindness in helping me with HALT-MS by helping her walk better from what I've learned.

    Let's get to work, Gabby!
    Dave Bexfield
    ActiveMSers

  • #2
    Originally posted by ActiveMSers View Post
    I have to admit, this was pretty cool. I found Gabby by her detailed blog on HALT-MS and she was instrumental in helping me and my wife get through the procedure with invaluable nuggets of advice. We ended our e-mails with the promise of getting together if we were ever in Austin. Well, that all worked out during our year 1 trip back to Texas, so we met up for lunch.

    Her husband and one of her sons joined her at a popular local Tex-Mex joint (a half-hour wait at 1:30!) and the restaurant staff must have been surprised to see two folks hobbling around on forearm crutches. Naturally our table was in the very back. (We might have sat outside, but temps were already creeping into the 90s due to a record April heat wave.)

    Gabby's MS trajectory lines up with my experience in a number of ways. While my MS merrily burbled along for several years before it suddenly turned aggressive, hers was a fright from the start in 2007. Both of us have spinal activity that hasn't mucked much with our brains, but has walloped our legs. Both of us barely squeaked into HALT-MS by just making the 100 meter required walk (for an EDSS of 5.5).

    She entered HALT-MS about two years before me and is nearing her 3-year anniversary in July. She's doing well and there has been no disease activity or progression, but her legs are still being stubborn. Since she home schools three little boys, her access to physical therapy and time to exercise is FAR more limited than mine. So I'm making it a personal goal to return her kindness in helping me with HALT-MS by helping her walk better from what I've learned.

    Let's get to work, Gabby!
    Hi Dave,

    Gabby sounds an amazing woman with all that she has on her plate and still be able to do the likes of home schooling, etc. You did make me a bit jealous though when you mentioned the Tex-Mex joint and the 90 degree heat!

    Stella

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    • #3
      Gabby just had her three year update. All clear on the MRI! That's huge considering how aggressive her MS was before the SCT....
      Dave Bexfield
      ActiveMSers

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      • #4
        Originally posted by ActiveMSers View Post
        Gabby just had her three year update. All clear on the MRI! That's huge considering how aggressive her MS was before the SCT....
        That is amazing Dave! Is she able to walk as well now?

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        • #5
          She's walking better I think (perhaps more confidently), but this takes time. I've been so busy with ActiveMSers that I owe Gabby another couple PT lessons!
          Dave Bexfield
          ActiveMSers

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