Dear Trevor-
I am not sure where all the animosity comes from between the groups of CML.
I can only simply respond by my own opinion(s). I for one, would love to
see less stressful, upsetting emails from people on these sites. I come here
for support, questions and information. I have found these sites to be
beneficial and supportive, especially during the early months of diagnosis.
Why people have to call out others on these sites is beyond me and I think
we miss the reason why these sites are here. I know that if any newly
diagnosed patients are getting on this site lately, they would be turned away by
the
talk. We should resort to being upbeat and supportive. I know Zavie and
his Zero club was a goal for me to set for myself to achieve, if nothing more
then something personal for me to try to get to. I think anything we can do
to encourage and support others, we should do. Even if that entails, climbing
a mountain for the CML society.
I think that peoples impressions about the remarks that someone on
disability could "climb a mountain" threw some people off. One person being
me. Make
no mistake about it, I am certainly not judging your wife. This is a
thought I had to myself. As a 35 year old mother of 3 young children who has
had
to file for disability due to the side effects of the Gleevec/CML, I couldn't
understand how someone could be on disability and Climb a mountain. I can
barely walk up a flight of steps without being winded, or get completely ready
in the morning with out feeling done for the day. I have since learned that
you don't live in the United States and that this is a goal, you wife has
chosen to achieve for her own personal means. I think whatever CML patients
have
to do to keep their life positive and achieve the things we set out to do,
we should do that. All of us together in the CML world need to stand up next
to each other and be supportive. We may not always understand or agree with
one another but I think there is enough negativity in the world and enough
stacked up against us that we should be positive and supportive to others
wearing our same shoes. We are all walking and climbing to the same goals. To
find a cure for CML and until then, bring as much positive light to the disease
and get people aware of CML.
I hope that everyone can put this behind us and move forward without the
personal attacks to each other and realize that we are all in the same boat.
We
are all fighting for the same thing. I wish nothing but the best for all of
you including your families and hope that we can all find the support and
knowledge on here that we originally found these sites to provide.
Best wishes to all-
Enjoy your climb-
Hugs-
Jennifer 35
CML 5/13/05
Gleevec 800mg
Wife and mother of 3 (11,8,6)
************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour