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Finding the Points of Light in a Life Altered by Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Things I Have Learned Over the Past 20 Years On December 18, 2006 the doctor would say two simple letters that would change the course of my life: MS. I would learn that I had Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an incurable neurological condition that affects the central nervous system, primarily the brain and spine. Apparently my…
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Owning it
The day I started believing in myself again In the years that followed my MS diagnosis in 2006, I could get away with masking my symptoms. But the disease was working its insidious magic. Despite taking the best medication available at the time, my body was silently attacking the myelin sheath that allowed signals to…
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They Are Just Tools
Learning to be okay using mobility aids I spent most of my early life on the sports field. Initially, my sports were track and field, basketball, and soccer. In time, soccer emerged as my primary sport. I would end up playing for my university and later in the premier division in Vancouver. At the highest…
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Everyone Is Dealing With Something
A few years ago, I hobbled over to our dinner table. A friend of my wife was joining us for dinner. I was struggling physically and firmly entrenched in my own misery. I was feeling sorry for myself, thinking why me? Why now? Normally talkative, I didn’t want to talk, and when I did, it…
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Punching Above Your Weight
Taking inspiration from the smallest of creatures In the spring of 1999, a biology graduate student at the university where I was studying approached me. “I am looking for a field lead to spend the summer in Nome, Alaska…” I said, “I’m in.” Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support…
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42nd floor
Being okay with accepting help In 2011, my business partner and I were asked to travel to Calgary for a meeting with senior client representatives. We had been working on a high profile project for the past couple of years, and asked to present our work. The stakes were high. It had been five years…
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The Place That Kindness Built
Building a wheelchair accessible cabin I have been dreaming about building a cabin since I was a teenager. Cabin life always represented quietness, simplicity, and a chance to reset in a beautiful setting. The sounds of birds. The seemingly deafening sound of maple leaves falling from trees amidst stillness. Spending time alone in nature or…
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Mini valets
Strangely, gaining independence by using a mobility scooter About 10 years ago, I discovered that using a mobility scooter for certain activities increased my independence. Counter-intuitive, I know. It allowed me to be more engaged in my life. Weekend hikes on reasonable terrain with my family. Going to the lookout above our local beach. Heading…
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Building The Next Generation
Living an adapted life through carpentry In my teens, I discovered my love of carpentry. It was logical to me, and at the end of the day, I would have a tangible product. With the few dollars I could scrape together at the time, I bought my first drill. A corded Makita. Through my late…
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Our wheelchair accessible cabin project
Reigniting the spark When we bought a property on Galiano Island, the intent was to build a family cabin. Simplicity, laughter, good food, good company, good music. As the seasons changed, so did the forest, lighting, and experiences. While being there, I had the opportunity to slow down and occasionally drown out the noise that…
