Eddie has always been the black sheep of the family. It first started when he got his ears pierced. This bothered his Dad, and his Mom asked him to take them out. However, he didn’t listen and he continued to do his own thing in life, and he found himself on a path unique to only himself.

As a teen, Eddie saw his life going in one of five directions. The first was a career in gold smithery, and the second was a life as a nurse on the front lines of the healthcare sector. The other three directions are now irrelevant because he chose the second option, and this gave him his life as he knows it.

Eddie comes from a strong military family, so when the Army said they would put him through school to get his LPN, it was a no brainer. He loves helping others, and saw a long term career path in the healthcare sector. For the first time in his life, he went to school and was able to study without having to worry about working. He loved every second of this, and after graduating with his LPN, he went on to get his RN. Here is where he met his wife who is also a nurse.

For years, he was a pediatric nurse in the neurosurgery department at various hospitals near his home. He thoroughly enjoyed his job, and had no plans to retire before the age of 67.

If all good things must come to an end, Eddie’s career is no different. He always considered himself a klutz, and even signed himself up for all insurance precautions at work just in case something happened. This klutziness turned into more - a sensation of numbness, tremors, and difficulty walking. A diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis fell into his lap, taking his dreams of a long career with it.

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers. This causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. Everyone with MS experiences it differently. Some may experience an increase of symptom severity slowly over time, while others may have periods of remission between periods of symptom flares (1).

Eddie was able to work for a few years after his diagnosis, as his relapsing-remitting MS disease progressed slowly. However, his relapses continued to hinder his ability to work, and he was forced into medical retirement.

Now that Eddie has been retired for 12 years, he feels he “couldn’t ask for a better life”. He gets to see his daughter follow in her parents’ footsteps as a nurse, and his son is a police officer. He gets to spend time with his grandson, and this reminds him why he loved working in a children’s hospital: kids have eternal hope. He wants to emulate their outlook on their world, as their main concern is a popsicle and catching the next episode of Blue's Clues.

Life is short,

anything can happen at any time. So why not enjoy it?
-Eddie, Folia User

All of his life’s experiences have culminated in one main lesson for Eddie: He has complete control over how he goes through life and how he views obstacles in his way. He could either look at things as something to overcome, or he could let them drag him down. And what’s the fun in the latter? He came to this realization after his MS diagnosis because he fell into a deep depression, and realized he wasn’t helping himself by wasting time away. Since that low point, he has taken steps to come to terms with his condition, and tries to have as much fun as he can on a daily basis.

Eddie gathers inspiration from various individuals, both in his own life and from the world around him. He finds strength in a supreme creator, and believes love is the core of everything. He knows we live in a beautiful world that is meant to be enjoyed. He looks for strength in individuals who have overcome challenges, such as his brother who had both legs amputated after contracting an infection, or Aron Ralston who had to amputate his own arm to survive being stuck in a boulder crevice for 127 hours.

Last year, Eddie was faced with another major obstacle: being diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. Pulmonary Fibrosis is a lung condition that occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred (2). Eddie took this news as another opportunity to practice positivity and taking challenges in stride.

We all have something to learn from Eddie. He inspires others to seek out the good, and share it. He also is an example that life’s curveballs can be managed with a good attitude, determination, and the support of others.

** Eddie is a pseudonym to protect the identity of the individual

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Life Experiences Series: Making the most of yesterday, today, and tomorrow