ConnectionsNews from the Hamilton Chapter

> Our Mission

To be a leader in finding a

cure for multiple sclerosis

and enabling people

affected by MS to enhance

their quality of life.

> Inside This Issue

W I N T E R E d I T I o N 2 0 1 2

Are you looking for something different or special to do this holiday season? We asked our morning Yoga participants to share a special holiday tradition which gives them pleasure. Here is a sample of the responses:

Dana buys a new Christmas CD every year. She has already purchased Michael Buble’s new CD.

Linda waits in anticipation for Christmas Eve when her family gets together to sing Christmas Carols. Her favourite part is the competition during the singing of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Aldo gets the pleasure of savoring his wife’s Christmas baking. His wife who he fondly refers to as his “girlfriend” makes the best cookies. Everyone in the yoga class agreed.

Janine looks forward to decorating the Christmas tree. Every decoration has its own special memory. Janine tries to add one special ornament each year.

Brian looks forward to going to a community Christmas Concert with

friends.

Sharon admits that her husband is a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to the holidays. She takes pleasure in listening to old Christmas songs on her headphones and watching classic Christmas movies like White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street.

Sometimes it is the most inexpensive activities like enjoying a cup of hot chocolate on a cold snowy night or touring the neighborhood to admire the Christmas lights that hold the most

special memories. And sometimes it is fun to try something new and make a new family tradition such as hosting a tree trimming party. It is one sure way to get your friends and neighbours to do the decorating for you!

Whatever you do to mark the holiday season, the Hamilton Chapter staff, board of directors and volunteers wish you

The Merriest Holiday and Happiest New Year!

Wheelchair Etiquette .......2

In Memoriam ...................3

What Does MS Look Like? .................................3

Navigating the MS Maze ...........................4

Research Study Participants ......................5

A Brighter Financial Future ...............................6

Ontario Photo ID ..............6

MS Walk ............................6

Support Group Calendar ...........................8

Making the Season Cheery and Bright!

Connections News from the Hamilton ChapterW I N T E R E d I T I o N 2 0 1 2

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MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONWheel Chair Etiquette – a Two Way StreetWritten by Helen Johnston

There is one type of etiquette that seems to have been overlooked. It hasn’t made the etiquette books, newspaper columns or your grandmother’s dinner table, but it is as important as not slurping your soup. It’s wheelchair etiquette.

This one has sort of just snuck up on all of us. Stop, and look around, we are everywhere, buses, malls, libraries, churches, and restaurants, just to give you a short list.

Although there are quite a few of us, including the scooters, we don’t own the walkways although some act like we do. But then again neither do the other pedestrians, we must all learn to share.

First rule is to slow down if there are any pedestrians around. We forget, but some of this equipment is pretty heavy and with the right impact can cause some serious damage. I know how we all enjoy the wind blowing through our hair, but slow down and think of others.

When a person truly tries to help us then a sincere ‘thank you’ is in order, especially if it’s a child. When a person purposely blocks our way, there’s no point saying anything, but a sarcastic sneer is appropriate and if you do it right can be quite enjoyable. The others around will have seen the incident, and will have formed their own opinions.

Power doors have been implemented for our safety and convenience. There are times when we have to wait in line while several walkers (not canes, baby buggies, etc., but people with good legs) plow through these doors. With the amount of unnecessary traffic it’s not hard to imagine why they so often have an out-of-order sign on them.

I don’t know about the rest of us but I find when travelling with another wheelchair it’s best to travel single file when on the sidewalk. One chair takes up a lot of room and two side-by-side are just not fair to the pedestrians.

Then there is that oh so special time when we ride the buses. I always have to build up my courage before getting on a bus. I can only speak for my experience of riding the buses in my home town. About half the drivers I’ve dealt with make no bones about the fact wheelchairs shouldn’t be allowed on buses. The other drivers are quite charming and helpful. If the driver is not pleasant he/she gives the other riders unwritten permission to grumble and glare at you for the duration of the trip.

The best way to deal with an unpleasant driver is to get on the bus quickly and not run over his toes. In time you will develop a good eye for maneuvering and the ascension into bus heaven will become a snap. Always remember you have a right to ride the buses.

This covers just a few of the situations we run into on our daily rounds. The best thing to remember is to treat others the way we wish to be treated.

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What Does Multiple Sclerosis Look Like?by Diane Black-Wood

We gratefully acknowledge

the gifts received in

memory of the following

people, and offer our

sympathy to those who

remember their passing.

Jacquelyn Lenhart

Eileen Peters

Gerald DeQuetteville

Marshall Forde

Rita Blackburn

Lorne Ransome

Natalie Kielb

Robert Jeckell

Suzanne Peters

Grazia Adamo

Vincenza Munisteri

Jone Knight

Geraldine Adam

In Memoriam

It resembles the air; invisible and colourlessIt resembles the wind; uncertain of course and direction

Sometimes it’s like a warm breezeIt resembles Remission

A reminder of how our bodies should workPredictable, reliable and efficient

Sometimes it’s like an unexpected stormIt resembles Exacerbation

A transition through damage and rehabilitationUnpredictable but ever hopeful

Sometimes it’s like a hurricane of unknown originIt resembles Sclerosis

Uprooting normalcy and natural rhythmIntrusive and scarring; leaving disrepair and uncertainty

SymptomsThe descriptive picture of Multiple Sclerosis

Objective and SubjectiveThe invisible feelings of discomfort, frustration and painThe visible limitations and impairments that mark our

difficulties

Multiple Sclerosis doesn’t really form a picture of any dimension or scope

Our complexities and tolerances uniquely individualWhat Multiple Sclerosis really looks like

Is how you choose to see it.

This poem was originally published in Connections in 2006. Thanks to Diane for allowing us to offer this inspiration to others by reprinting it. We encourage members to submit contributions to our newsletter.

Connections News from the Hamilton ChapterW I N T E R E d I T I o N 2 0 1 2

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Navigating the MS Maze - A National Education Session offered new paths to living well with MSOn Saturday November 12th, 200 people gathered at the Royal Botanical Gardens to learn about the latest news in MS therapies and unlocking the mysteries of finding credible MS information through the internet and social media.

Dr. Sarah Morrow - a leading Neurologist from London Health Science Centre shared what has changed in the first line drug therapies – Avonex, Betaseron, Copaxone, Rebif which have been in use for 15 – 20 years. Long term studies are finding that early use of first line drug therapies do decrease relapses or severity of relapses and also delays the amount of disability. What has changed is that all the first line drugs are looking at improving ease of use and risks associated with frequency of injections. From software applications you can download onto a smartphone to injection pens to injection devices that hide the needle and monitor usage, all of the first line drug therapies are addressing the risk factors associated with regular injections.

The new second line treatments such as Tysabri and Gilenya - offer alternatives for when first line therapies are not the answer. Second line treatments have been shown to reduce lesions by preventing the crossing of the blood brain barrier.

Our knowledge about the effectiveness and risks associated with these second line treatments is growing and helps neurologists better advise patients on the best options for

their individual situations. Plus there are new additional oral therapies that are close to going to market.

Regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding for women with MS, Dr. Morrow shared results of a number of studies that looked at rates of miscarriages and birth defects relating to when women stop MS drugs. Although the findings were mixed, the prevailing opinion is that it is safe to stay on MS drug therapies for as long as possible and be vigilant about testing so you can stop as soon as you learn you are pregnant. She indicated that if breast feeding, new moms can stay off their MS drug therapies as

studies have shown a connection between breast feeding and lower levels of relapses.

There is exciting work underway in areas such as symptom

management and risk factors. Research on Vitamin D, in particular, is adding to the body of knowledge available to neurologists. Although the cause and cure for MS continues to elude us, research has increased our ability to individualize treatment plans.

How a person living with MS keeps informed about the newest and latest developments in Multiple Sclerosis was the focus of the second presenter - Susan Latter, Principal of Latteral Concepts in Healthcare an organization specializing in healthcare communication and continuing health education. She shared some of the key concepts from her betterpatient™ program which helps people find reliable, and trustworthy sources of online health

Continued on Page 7

Our knowledge about the effectiveness and risks associated with these second line treatments is growing and helps neurologists better advise patients on the best options for their individual situations.

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Free classes to anyone who has been diagnosed with MS. The classes are designed to work within your limitations and concerns. Train with others who have MS in a comfortable, relaxed setting. Ron works at improving your strength, coordination, balance and stamina. As well this training will include simple but effective defenses to allow the individual to better protect themselves or others. The class is taught by Ron Yeates, a retired police officer who lives with MS. Ron is the head instructor of the club and looks forward to having you join his training.

Toronto Rehab’s multiple sclerosis service has released a new exercise DVD called It’s Your Choice Exercises for fitness and well-being for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. The DVD features a flexible 15 to 45 minute workout at three different levels of difficulty to suit individual needs and schedules.

It’s Your Choice was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from Serono Canada, and was produced by the generous and talented team at q media solutions.

For more information, or to order your copy, please contact:

Service Coordinator ABI 550 University Avenue, Room N414 Toronto, ON M5G 2A2

(416) 597-3422 ext. 3441

Have you had Multiple Sclerosis for more than 20 years? Are you over 55 years of age?

Would you like to take part in a research study?

Dr. Michelle Ploughman, Clinical Research Scientist with Eastern Health and Memorial University of Newfoundland is looking for people to take part in a survey studying health, lifestyle and living with MS. She hopes to learn more about staying healthy and active with MS.

• The survey takes about 45 minutes to complete

• It is completely anonymous

• It includes a self-addressed stamped envelope for easy return

For more information about the study or to ask if you can take part, contact

Dr. Michelle Ploughman

Toll Free 1-866-684-0362

mploughm@mun.ca

Global Martial ArtsRon Yeates at 289-439-0535

Exercise DVD helps people with MS stay fit

Research Study Looking for Participants

Connections News from the Hamilton ChapterW I N T E R E d I T I o N 2 0 1 2

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A Brighter Financial Future through an RDSP TodayIf you or someone in your family is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, you may also benefit from the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). With tax deferred growth and potential government matching grants an RDSP can help ensure your financial security long term. Most financial institutions or investment advisors can assist you is setting up an RDSP and maximizing your savings. Both setting up an RDSP or making a contribution to a plan are great Christmas gift ideas that pay dividends well into the future.

Goodbye BriannaWe said goodbye to our Event Coordinator, Brianna Cifoni in September as she follows a new career path to become a 911 dispatch operator. Brianna’s hard work led to the success of the 2011 MS Walk, Hit a Ball for MS program, and Trivia Night event and her energetic personality will be missed!

Ontario Photo Card Making Life EasierOntario introduced a new photo card that willprovide government-issued identification tomore than 1.5 million Ontarians who do notdrive. The Ontario photo card makes it easierfor non-drivers to perform everydaytransactions such as cashing a cheque orreturning merchandise to a store. The voluntarycard was launched on July 25, 2011 and isavailable to individuals 16 years of age andover who do not hold a driver’s license.Individuals may apply for the photo card at anyone of the 21 select ServiceOntario centresthat offer photo card services. By December31, 2012 all 300 ServiceOntario centres willprovide the Ontario Photo Card applicationservice.

MS WalkSave the date! The 2012 MS Walk will be taking place in Hamilton & Stoney Creek on Sunday April 22, 2012.

Want to become more involved in the MS Walk planning? Join our MS Walk Committee! For more information on this opportunity contact Pamela, 905-527-7874 ext 13 or pamela.sharp@mssociety.ca

Congratulations to our Hit a Ball for MS Raffle winners: Jeff Hamblin, Jamie Hiusser, Doug

Kay and Randy Slack!

information and support. From clinical trials to healthcare guides to patient testimonials and corporate sponsored info, all can be found on the internet and be valuable when making decisions about your MS. For evidence-based clinical information such as research studies, the gold standard is Medline, a freely accessible online database of biomedical journal citations and abstracts created by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Other trusted sources of information are governments, educational institutions and non-governmental organizations like the MS Society of Canada. When assessing the quality of information, you should consider the source of the website and determine if it is a sponsored or endorsed site. Determine if the site has been vetted by a trusted source such as the Health on the Net (HON) organization. If a site has an HON endorsement, it has met an extensive list of rigorous criteria. The popularity of social media has generated a tidal wave of new paths to patient information. Anyone can post an article or patient story. Connecting and sharing with other people living with MS through social media such as Facebook and Twitter can be a very time consuming activity. Once you locate sites which are credible and offer reliable information, you can bookmark those sites for easy access in the future. Setting up Google alerts will also save time by bringing the information to you. The betterpatient™ program takes the fear out of surfing the net and helps you to learn the basics of navigating the maze of online health information and support. Whatever path you take in your

search for online information you will have success if you have a clear purpose, trust the source and always question the reliability of the information. Should you have any questions about recent developments in MS research, you can speak with Catharine Everets, Senior Client Services Coordinator.

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Navigating the MS Maze(Continued from Page 4)

Cheque Presentation from Insurance Brokers Association of Hamilton

Pictured: Lenard Eybel of Binbrook Insurance Brokers

Ltd. and Pamela Sharp, Senior Fundraising Coordinator.

Hamilton Chapter received $2,500 proceeds from

the Insurance Brokers Association of Hamilton Golf

Tournament.

Attention: Connections Newsletter is going green in 2012. If you would like to receive Connections Newsletter electronically instead of a printed version, please provide your full name, current address and email address to Catharine Everets (905) 527-7874 ext. 17 or email her at Catharine.everets@mssociety.ca

Thanks for helping us reduce our environmental footprint and allow us to contain our administration costs which in turn can be re-invested in services!

Support Group Calendar

Your subscription to ConnectionsTo update your mailing address or subscription preferences, please contact Hamilton Chapter at info.hamilton@mssociety.ca or you can call 905-527-7874.

Share comments or stories: info.hamilton@mssociety.ca

Connections is published quarterly by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Hamilton Chapter.

For more information on support groups contact Catharine Everets at 905-527-7874 ext. 17 or catharine.everets@mssociety.ca.

PLEASE NOTE: If DARTS cancels their service, all MS Society events will be cancelled.

Articles express the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

Contents may be reproduced with acknowledgement except articles reprinted with permission.

5-94 Cannon Street West, Hamilton, ON L8R 2B6 • Tel 905-527-7874 • Fax 905-527-8484 • www.mssociety.ca/hamilton

Publication Agreement # 40024295Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to:5-94 Cannon St. W., Hamilton oN L8R 2B

December 2011December 1 Carepartner Group 7:00pm-9:00pmDecember 5 Stoney Creek Mountain 7:00pm-8:30pmDecember 6 Stoney Creek Downtown 10:30am-12:00noonDecember 8 Waterdown Group 10:30am-12:00noonDecember 13* Downtown Group 7:00pm-8:30pm

*Please note that due to the Christmas holidays the December meeting will be held the second week in December.

January 2012January 3 Stoney Creek Mountain 7:00pm-8:30pmJanuary 3 Stoney Creek Downtown 10:30am-12:00noonJanuary 5 Carepartner Group 7:00pm-9:00pmJanuary 12 Waterdown Group 10:30am-12:00noonJanuary 17 Downtown Group 7:00pm-8:30pm

*Please note the Stoney Creek Mtn meeting will be held the first Tuesday of the month due to the New Year Holiday

February 2012February 2 Carepartner Group 7:00pm-9:00pmFebruary 6 Stoney Creek Mountain 7:00pm-8:30pmFebruary 7 Stoney Creek Downtown 10:30am-12:00noonFebruary 9 Waterdown Group 10:30am-12:00noonFebruary 21 Downtown Group 7:00pm-8:30pm

Just a reminder…due to inclement weather in the winter months, DARTS may need to cancel

their services. If unsure about the weather and road conditions, please listen to your local radio

or TV station. Please note: if DARTS cancels their service, all MS Society events will be cancelled.