Making it the New Normal

One of the symptoms I struggle with, besides the not walking thing, is spasticity. It has been around since I was first diagnosed. It mostly affects my legs, making them shake and/or go rigid pretty much every time I move. Besides all the energy it uses, it would make sleeping difficult. If I needed to change positions, my legs would just go, shaking me and our bed like crazy. I would ask Marc, "Did you put a quarter in the bed?"

The medicine I take for it was not helping anymore so we decided to have a pump surgically implanted that would give the medicine directly to my spinal cord. I had the surgery 1 month ago. It was outpatient, but it was no small thing. The pump is the size of a hockey puck and is under the skin in my abdomen. It has a catheter that had to be "tunneled" around my side and then inserted into the spinal fluid that surrounds the spinal cord. The first  2 weeks were pretty rough. I got a monster spinal headache so I had to be flat on my back for 5 days. And I wasn't really seeing a lot of improvement in my spasticity.

I was really a mess, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I kept going around in circles in my head, wondering if I really did the right thing, did I wait for God's answer or did I just presume I was supposed to do it, why did I ever think it was a good idea to have this crazy thing done to my body, and was this thing even on??? I put up all my walls, and reverted to my default emotion--anger. It's always easier for me to be angry when things get crazy. But what I was really feeling was afraid, because my MS was getting worse and I just didn't know what would happen next. So I kind of shut everyone out, including Jesus. That is no good place to be.

Two weeks after the surgery, I got up and went to Jesus. As I poured out my heart to Him, He poured out His grace and love and forgiveness and healing all over me. He gave me the strength to accept and embrace His will for my life. Even if that includes a whole bunch of suffering. What matters most is that He loves me and is using all of it to draw me closer to Himself. And honestly, there is no place I'd rather be.

When I was still walking and I had to start using a cane, that became my new normal. And the same with my wheelchair and now with my pump (which IS on and working very nicely). I have found that when I give to Jesus my complete surrender, He gives to me His peace and His grace so that no matter what comes my way, it can be my new normal.

Here I Go!

A couple months ago my friend suggested that I write a blog. Hmmm... Last week a different friend said the same thing. And hmmmm... I don't really consider myself a writer, I'm more of a talker. But I think I'll give this a go.

My name is Ylisa Dooley. I have been married for 15 years to an amazing man, Marc, and we have 2 children. Nate is will be 11 in August and Hannah is 9. One year ago our family packed up and moved from Phoenix, Arizona to Nashville, Tennessee. We are very happy to call this beautiful place home.

A little over 14 years ago I put my trust in my Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. And 6 weeks later I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. At the young age of 22 I was faced with a decision. Was I going to turn my back on God for letting this happen to me, or would I fall into the arms of the One who called my name and promised to take care of me. With hardly a pause I knew where I belonged, safely hidden in the shelter of my Mighty God. What a joy to look back and see his unfailing love and steadfast faithfulness to me and my family.

For the last 5 years I have been in a wheelchair. I have learned more, cried more, laughed more, grown more, hoped more and loved more than any other time in my life. There have been times when I thought I had lost my joy, but the Lord continues to restore unto me His joy, so much that my cup overflows.

My hope in sharing my life with you is that your cup will overflow too.

Ylisa