Sciencing the s**t out of MS Cora Sargeant

In a drive to feel more self esteem, self efficacy, and an internal locus of control I decided to do something really reckless. Sometimes thriving requires a little risk; did I survive? Let's find out together as we Science the S**t out of MS.

A new wheelchair and a whole new world opens up, a world of inacessibility and ableism; but maybe there's a way to see the barriers to access as barriers to a whole community, and maybe there's a way for us all to find a place to belong.

This week I bought a wheelchair and was supported a great deal in the effort by my other half; time to consider how I can best support her as we look to the qualitative literature about caregiver experiences.

References: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xfL2gEoy_90Wuuc0TTAgBg7c9xh6q1i6XPOBiWe02gk/edit?usp=sharing

For the first time this week I started to see myself as a disabled person, as a woman on the train, despite my protests, called for someone to give up their seat for me. Today, we talk about agency and identity, and the social model of disability; together, let's science the s**t out of MS.

References: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xfL2gEoy_90Wuuc0TTAgBg7c9xh6q1i6XPOBiWe02gk/edit?usp=sharing

What we say to ourselves makes a difference to how we feel, and might even help us to play darts better. Let's Science the s**t out of MS!

References: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xfL2gEoy_90Wuuc0TTAgBg7c9xh6q1i6XPOBiWe02gk/edit?usp=sharing

This week sees us reach the end of Season 1, and for the final episode of this season we do something rather different. Now I preface this episode by saying that I'm no medical doctor, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist, but I am a complex problem solver by trade and this week I aim to solve the problem my mobility poses to building my strength and exercising 20 minutes per day, and I apply all my skills to solving it. There are failures, and some tears, but in the end through the fires of trial and error I find a way to build up my strength and fitness in a way that is completely new to me. It features an exercise bike, virtual reality, and skeletons.

Next season we'll head back to the books to find whole new ways to flourish in the context of MS; we solve one problem, we solve the next, and if we solve enough problems we get to thrive with this condition.