Living Well With MS & Disabilities: Ellie's Blog

I love the Holiday Season. The lights and the smell of the evergreens.  I always extend Christmas by celebrating the "12 days of Christmas".  I don't rush out after Thanksgiving and start Christmas. I need to rest and think about family and the nice things about  Thanksgiving.

This year we found the perfect tree and we put it up on our square grand piano. After the lights we added the collection of different ornaments and decorations that we have collected  over the 48 years we have been married. We put on Christmas music and each of us take a section to decorate. 

But taking the tree down is usually just my responsibility of which I don't mind if I have time. I always call for  help for the top ones and wrapping up the lights on the long cylinders.  It is usually not special just a bit of a chore.

But this year when I was taking the ornaments off the tree I heard about the Haitian earthquake. Looking at those picture's on television and the contrast of me in my comfortable home suddenly was very unsettling.

What was never a special event just taking the ornaments off the tree and putting everything away  became more special to me. As I looked at each ornament they brought back so many wonderful memories and I just had to pause and think about them.  And then I would think of those family's in Haiti who lost everything including so many of their loved ones. These ornaments and their memories became so much more precious to me.

And as I boxed them to go upstairs I felt certain that next year they will come down to be put up on a different Christmas Tree. This sense of continuity and the warmth of the season with my memories just spread through me with a sense of overwhelming gratefulness for my life.

I like everyone else sent money to the Red Cross . I have also followed the reports but have avoided any of the graphic pictures of bodies and the destruction because I find it so upsetting.  However,I do rejoice when I've heard a person was saved. I also rejoice that most people and countries around the world are coming to their aid.

What I also find upsetting is hearing people say that we have our own problems. Look at the situation with our own homes they say, and that we shouldn't be spending that much money on Haiti. I find that shocking and it really saddens me to hear some of my countrymen say that.

I'm learning more about the history of Haiti and the entrenched years of poverty there. However,the lack of understanding of the needs of the disabled community there brings my concern closer to home and more personal.

What would my life with MS had been like in Haiti? What about people with other disabilities? And now how are those people faring? 

And my last question?? How are they going to accommodate and meet even the basic needs of the newly disabled due to the earthquake?

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has good information on their blog as well as organizations that you can give to to help.

http://jfactivist.typepad.com/jfactivist/2010/01/haitians-with-disabilities-suffering-after-quake-how-to-help.html

You can also go to United States International Council on Disabilities website for up to date information as well as Agencies that are helping.http://www.usicd.org/template/index.cfm

I've decided every time I complain about my situation I will put some money in my Haiti Box to be sent to help those with disabilities who need help in Haiti.

How about you?                                         ellie