Humpty Dumpty – And a Farewell

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.

All the king's horses and all the king's persons

Yelled, "Humpty is doomed and he only can worsen!"

But this egg said, "No, not at all!"

"It's true that I'm splattered and look like I'm less,

"It's true that my life really looks like a mess,

"But my fall has shown light on a new way to be.

"Now I'm strong in a way you can't see."

Bravo Humpty!

Remember the day you were diagnosed with MG? Remember how utterly desolate, alone and darkly inconsolable you felt? Remember your confusion and blank disbelief? Well, if that isn't getting splattered, I don't know what is.

Now fast-forward to today. Are you the same egg now you were back then? No way! I absolutely guarantee you have learned more, and probably learned it faster, than most "normal" people. You have learned how to survive.

"Survival" means something very specific to myasthenics. It means knowing and proving, repeatedly, every single day after frustrating day, that even when you're not quite up to doing everything you want to do, you're not about to let that stop you from doing what you can do. No matter what, you will and you shall do everything you can do.

The cosmic irony here is that even though this lesson is available to everyone, it's those among us who get splattered who learn it first — and who learn it best.

This column will be our last visit together. For ten years (!) you've been kind enough to put up with my thoughts, beliefs, opinions and rants, and for that you deserve big shiny medals. Your grace and patience are of the angels, and I thank you.

But more than that, I'm proud of you. Because each and every one of you is a survivor.

That doesn't just mean you got lucky and outlived someone else, or that you weren't voted off the island. It means that you, (yes, you!) are a living, breathing, modern-day Humpty Dumpty. Your body may be a little splattered, but your soul in invincible. Never forget this.

Now go forth and be happy!

The Successful Myasthenic

For many years, Patricia Armstrong was well known to readers of MG News for her upbeat columns pertaining to coping with the idiosyncrasies of having myasthenia gravis. During the thirty-seven years since diagnosis, Patricia has worked hard to find her balance in life despite her generalized symptoms. It wasn’t easy; a former husband would never get the Nobel Prize for compassion since he was embarrassed and irritated by her condition.

Learning to make the necessary adjustments that MG requires, changing her dreams and setting new boundaries has made Patricia, in her own words, “one strong cookie.” Patricia has parlayed her unique MG experiences and those of other myasthenics into entertaining and interesting vignettes which strive to help others deal with life after a diagnosis of MG.

 

©2024 Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of California.