The 8K at the Crim is 12 days away, and here’s the third installment of my essay: “And it’s about now that I always think to myself that there probably are healthy, able-bodied people out there who would kill themselves if they felt as good as I do …” As I…… Continue Reading
Catch the Digmanns in the news
Category Archives: Daily Life
He warned me
Seven years ago, Dr. Pasupuleti, my neurologist at the time, reluctantly gave me a prescription for a wheelchair. “When I give my patients this, they almost never walk again,” he told my mom and me. “But doctor,” I said, “I plan on walking for a long time. Don’t worry. It’s just that right now, I’m…… Continue Reading
Running with MS, pt. 2
’Cause in the darkness I hear somebody call my name And when you realize how they tricked you this time And it’s all lies but I’m strung out on the wire In these streets of fire From “Streets of Fire” by Bruce Springsteen I glance down at my feet and I see them striding in…… Continue Reading
Running with MS
As I’m down to less than three weeks before my first 8K race (that’s about five miles to you and me!) at the Crim Festival of Races in Flint, I occasionally ask myself, “And you’re running an 8K why? After all, you do have MS, remember?” I then quickly remind myself, “That’s exactly why I’m doing…… Continue Reading
Goodbye Jim
Wishing things away is not effective. That’s what a fortune cookie once told me. I believe this truism. But knowing this truth didn’t stop me from wishing that the news Jim told me a few months ago wasn’t true. Earlier this summer, Jim gently broke it to me that he and his wife were…… Continue Reading
Kevin Spacey moments
A few years ago I watched a television interview with Kevin Spacey, one of my favorite actors. He has a quiet charm that I find very appealing. Plus, he seems pretty smart and I think this helps make him a believable actor. I liked his performance best in the 1999 Oscar winning film, American Beauty. I especially loved…… Continue Reading
Being our own best advocates–at the State Capitol
I desperately dropped to my knees in the silent hallway of the House Office Building in Lansing and told Jennifer to grab me the pen from her purse. There were no tables readily available to write on, so the floor would have to do. I had to jot a quick note to our State Representative Bill…… Continue Reading
R.I.P. Dragons #2 and #3
Really, it was not that hard. As usual things are much harder in my head than they truly turn out to be. Taking a graduate class all by myself, no Dan to help me or hold my hand, scared me. But it actually was an experience that helped me rebuild confidence in my abilities.…… Continue Reading
Fearlessness lost … and found
As much as I hate to admit it, multiple sclerosis had me running scared. In the weeks leading up to the Alma Highland Festival held over Memorial Day weekend I was soooo afraid of falling. I guess the “Friday Night Incident on Mission Street” in late March had cut me deeper than the incident-instigated five-stitch…… Continue Reading
jenny the dragon slayer
tuesday morning, i slayed my first dragon. to understand what i mean by this i need to share with you some of my background: right around may 24 i will begrudgingly celebrate a bitter anniversary of sorts. it will mark seven years since i last walked. you’d think since it has been such a long…… Continue Reading