When I met Dan on September 28, 2002, I remember thinking that he was cute, charming and easy to talk to. He also had strong faith and understood the realities of life with Multiple Sclerosis. As my mom and I drove home from the Finding Your Buried Treasure program where we met earlier that day,…… Continue Reading
Catch the Digmanns in the news
Category Archives: Caregiving
It’s just a cold, right?
It’s 40 degrees and raining on Monday. Then you wake up to sunshine and a crisp 18 degrees on Tuesday … just in time for 32 degrees and six inches of snow by the weekend. No wonder sniffles, sneezes and tissues take over our lives throughout the winter months. We’ve all been there, right? But…… Continue Reading
Odds and Ends
Merriam‑Webster defines “odds and ends” as, “miscellaneous articles or remnants.” This is a perfect title to capture all of the assorted bits I want to share on this chilly fall morning. First and foremost, Dan and I thank each and every one of you who shared kind thoughts and words consoling us after Cooper’s sudden…… Continue Reading
Goodbye, Sprout
I don’t want to write this today. Heck, Dan and I really haven’t felt much like writing period. Maybe our not writing is due to the gloomy fall weather outside. Perhaps its Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Yes, maybe that is it. Seasons changing. Knowing that another cold, snowy Michigan winter is right around the corner.…… Continue Reading
Weighing in on MS and obesity research
By now you may have read a news article or two focused on the relationship between obesity and Multiple Sclerosis. Articles with ominous headlines like: “New Study Provides More Evidence That Obesity Increases Risk for Developing MS” “Obesity Epidemic May Contribute To Multiple Sclerosis; Increases Risk By 40%.” Articles like these show the growing body…… Continue Reading
An MS caregiving story in pictures
It’s always humbling when people want to know more about us and about our shared battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Jennifer and I comment that our life together and serving as each other’s caregiver is an open book, and we’re willing to answer pretty much any question. Leave it to a Central Michigan University student to make…… Continue Reading
An MS caregiver's cry revisited: Take me
As I sat out in the living room reading my book for graduate school, I heard Jennifer back in the bedroom crying in pain. The damn trigeminal neuralgia had woken her from her nap. It’s the sharp nerve pain for which she just wrote about in a guest post on MSlisaSAYS that appeared later in…… Continue Reading
Our true love story
I always tell my interns to write tight. Make each word count. I hope I make them proud with this post as I let the humbling work of others speak volumes. See for yourself why Jennifer and I gratefully offer huge thanks to: • Adam Miedema – our friend and my Central Michigan University colleague…… Continue Reading
Mind if we play through?
I enjoy that even with the challenges Jennifer and I face in living with MS, every day life is everyday life. The effects of these challenges – including everything from her inability to walk to my constantly numb hands and feet – merely are par for our courses of this disease. It’s as though we…… Continue Reading
Forget the glass. Look for the silver!
To some people the glass is half empty. To others it’s half full. Then there are others who have the drive to say, “This isn’t the drink that I ordered,” and send the proverbial glass back for a new one. Which person are you? I’ve always considered myself an optimist who finds the best in…… Continue Reading