4 years later...

Blue collared shirt with little rhinestone buttons and black work pants.  I remember every inch of that day like it happened this morning.  Four years ago today my family lost the most incredible person, my Uncle Ottie.  Many of you already know the story bacause he is the main reason I am so active in the MS Society.  What many of you do not know is the battle he fought against that disease.  He had the worst kind of MS a person could have.  He tried all different medications, Doctors, and remedies to just slow down the process of his body being attacked.  That was just the kind of man he was.  He knew it wouldnt completely ever go away but he just wanted to slow it down.  He even tried bee stings, because that was the newest and greatest remedy out at the time.  My Aunt and him kept actual live Bee's in their basement and everyday he would be stung by them.  It helped a little but not enough.  All the meds he was taking were new and no real knowledge of side effects.  One possible side effect in one of the drugs was Leukemia, he took it anyway.... you know the rest of the story.  With the help of technology and time there has been many great new drugs that have come out to prevent this disease from getting worse in people effected by it.  It is too late for my uncle but it is still important to me to keep his memory alive and help others with MS.  That is why I keep active in the MS Walks and Bike MS.  I am doing two rides this year, one in the Finger Lakes and one in NYC.  It is my way to stay close to him.  He rides with me every inch of the way just like he is in my heart every day since 4 years ago today in my blue collared shirt... I love you Uncle Ottie, we all miss you so much! xoxo