The contortions necessary to reconcile an all-loving, all-good and “personal” God with the hosts of sufferings in life has always reminded me of the contortions in someone who keeps returning to an abusive relationship. “Ohhh, it’s not his fault, I bring it on myself, really…”
But, hey, it takes all kinds. Back to the OP, here’s hoping a shifted medication regimine tames it back to full functioning.
Oh, hardygrrl…Hugs to both you and your friend.
My mom has MS. She was diagnosed with it when I was in my junior year of high school, in 1990 or '91. She’s been pretty lucky with it, really–some major exacerbations early on, but few after the first several months. She’s doing pretty well, really. I hope the new meds work well for her, and that the progress of her MS is as mild as my mom’s.
I meant to say that I hoped the new meds worked well for Jessica, and that the progress of her MS is as mild as my mom’s.
Geeze, I got all caught up in this mini-debate-slash-hijack that I forgot to offer my best hopes for you and your friend, hardygrrl. Hope the new med regiment helps.
No apologies needed for the hijacks. My OP and thread title did mention god.
I’ll admit to completely losing my faith when my nephew was ill. Watching a four year old die a slow painful death will do that to you. 
It’s been a long road back to believing in a higher power. I fully understand people’s doubts about god in the face of tragedy, especially when it happens to people who seemingly don’t deserve it.
That was Oral, I remember well, I used to live near Tulsa and regularly saw the hand of the Jolly Green Giant.
There’s a great quote by Gilda Radner that goes something to the effect of: “Cancer is the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Except for the dying at the end.”
In other words, because of her cancer she re-evaluated her life. It made her put her her priorities in order very, very quickly and made her appreciate and marvel the gift that is life. Something we all take for granted unless and until its finiteness smacks us right in the face.
Having a disease is awful, esp. a degenerative one. But would you be as close, or cherish her as much, if she didn’t have the disease? Would she be as marvelous a character if she had perfect health? Maybe, just maybe, God didn’t plan a perfect life for all of us because He knows, like children who are over-indulged, we wouldn’t appreciate it.
Or, to put it another way, people that live in Florida rarely go to the beach. A tourist will go every day.
PunditLisa
We have been best friends for four years. I have cherished having her as a friend and admired her character every day.
Even before the “Evil Nerve Fairy”, as she calls it, first appeared. The fact she’s so upbeat still makes me admire her even more.
hardygrrrl, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. My best friend and I were ten when her mom was diagnosed with MS. I remember thinking “Oh, well it can’t be that serious a disease, because Cindy seems fine.” My friend and I drifted apart over the years, but every once in a while I would run into Cindy, and as time progressed, the MS began to take a visible toll. I remember chatting with her in high school as she leaned on her walker. She was younger than my own mom.
A few months ago, I ran into a high school classmate and she mentioned that my old friend, whom I haven’t seen in five years now, had gotten married. Oh, and by the way, Cindy had died.
I had a hard time getting through the rest of the day, and even as I type this, my fingers are shaking. Cindy was like my second mom. She took my friend and me swimming, cooked me dinner, didn’t mind when her daughter and I stayed awake all night yelling at “slumber” parties. She was such a great person, and that fucking disease came up and slowly killed her. Shit, now I’m crying.
Sorry to be so depressing. Hardygrrrl, I hope so much that some kind of cure can be found for this disease. Your friend sounds like a treasure.