Some pain is obvious. When someone breaks a leg, the leg is put in a cast and the person is given crutches. When you look at a person hobbling around on crutches you feel immediate compassion because you can see the pain and discomfort the person is experiencing. This is not the case with chronic […]
(Image from: http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~issues/articles/15.1_Boban_R_Pseudobulbar_Affect.html) The holidays are a stressful time. Combine the stress of the holidays with a Multiple Sclerosis relapse and the result can be overwhelming on a person and/or family. During Thanksgiving in 2010, I experienced a devastating relapse with a symptom that I had never experienced before: severe mood swings and emotional outbursts. Here […]
In 1981 when I was only four years old, my Aunt Loretta passed away from complications related to her Multiple Sclerosis. My only living memories are that she was in a wheelchair then bedbound and unable to talk. She could only mumble and moan. As I lay in my hospital bed in 2005, I’m thought […]
One of the more vivid memories of my hospital stay for Transverse Myelitis was my mother’s conspiracy theory for why I was lying in a hospital bed non-functioning from the waist down. She believed that I developed Multiple Sclerosis from something I was exposed to in the Navy. This was one theory that I […]
As far back as I can remember, I dreamed of visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I was born into a football family, more specifically a New England Patriots football family. We used to huddle around my grandmother’s kitchen table each Sunday and listen to AM radio broadcasts because the Pats weren’t good enough […]
**Re-posted from: http://www.cantonmercy.org/press-releases/Mercy-Hosts-Author-and-Inspirational-Speaker-Matt-Cavallo** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct 08, 2013 CONTACT: Cindy Hickey, 330-430-2767 cindy.hickey@cantonmercy.org Cavallo shares his story of how to live your best life despite chronic illness Canton, Ohio: If you or someone you love has experienced the life-changing effects of a major chronic illness, you’ll want to hear author and speaker Matt Cavallo share his inspiring […]
Recently, I have received a flood of emails from my readers relating to Multiple Sclerosis and bladder issues. Unfortunately, this is a topic that I know all too well. When I had my initial onset of symptoms with Transverse Myelitis in 2005, not only could I not walk, but I was also unable to go […]
A couple of months ago, I was asked to contribute a bi-monthly blog to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA). The MSAA is a non-profit association focused on providing resources, services and support for the entire MS community since 1970. In the 70′s, my Aunt Loretta suffered from Multiple Sclerosis. Her condition was complicated […]
My wife, Jocelyn, and I just got back from taking the kids on a summer vacation. We escaped the scorching desert heat and visited family in friends in Boston then in Milwaukee. While we wanted to get away for the kids, I was silently dreading traveling. Air travel in general can be a stressful experience. Factor in Multiple […]
K.L. Toth recently interviewed me for her blog, Creative Expressions. She is a talented writer who has a wonderful blog and book reviews. Here is an excerpt from our recent interview. The full interview is available at the link listed below: “Most of us have plans for our lives; dreams that we hope will come true. […]