Looking Through the Eyes of Hope: Ways to Make the Holidays Easier for
People With Chronic Illnesses

KANSAS CITY, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Kathleen Andes looked sentimentally
at the young dancers as they adjusted their hair and straightened their
costumes in preparation for the opening act of the "Nutcracker."  In less than
an hour, they would leap onto the stage in a poetic flurry of grace and
athleticism to celebrate the holiday season.

Not so long ago, Andes was the dancer in the spotlight.  She was a gifted
ballerina and Irish folk dancer on her way up the ladder.  Multiple sclerosis
put an end to her dancing career and started her on a new journey, the quest
to find a new balance in her life.  The holidays reminded her of what she
didn't have and the "Nutcracker" represented what she couldn't do.

"What Kathleen has struggled through is common for many people with
chronic diseases.  The holidays can be a difficult time.  To make things
easier, we recommend people with chronic illnesses and their family and
friends reach out for the hope and magic the holiday season can represent,"
said Linda Morgante, M.S.N., R.N., of the Multiple Sclerosis Care Center at
Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

For Andes, finding hope meant putting what energy she had into finding a
treatment for her multiple sclerosis and discovering a way to use her creative
skills and talents.  With the help of her neurologist, she began taking
COPAXONE(R) (glatiramer acetate for injection), a drug for relapsing-remitting
multiple sclerosis.  The nurses at Shared Solutions(TM) provided regular
support as she started the treatment.  Following the initiation of
COPAXONE(R), she said she was able to maintain her level of activity, play the
violin and exercise.

"I tried the interferons, but I felt so sick that I couldn't live my life
fully.  The kind of therapy I needed was one that would let me put my disease
in the background and my dreams in the foreground," said Andes.  "By examining
the choices, my doctor and I were able to select a therapy that worked well
for my life and my multiple sclerosis."

As for dancing, Andes accepted a position as an administrator of the
Maryland Youth Ballet.  "It is inspiring to watch the young dancers master new
moves and steps.  There was a time when watching a performance was hard
because I wished I could be out there," said Andes.  "Now I am able to feel
the joy these dancers feel when they are on stage."

If finding joy during the holidays is difficult for you or someone you know
with a chronic disease, Morgante recommends trying the following:

    * Think about the good times.  Remembering good experiences about the past
helps you be strong for the present.
    * Imagine a brighter tomorrow.  Visualize the way you want your life to
be.  Actually see yourself doing the things you want to do.  Positive thinking
is healthy for the mind, body and spirit.
    * Remember, you are in control.  No matter how out of control your life
can feel, especially during the holidays, there is always something you can do
to achieve control.  Don't be afraid to say no or ask for what you do need.
Also don't be afraid to say yes.
    * Use humor.  A heartfelt laugh is good for the soul.
Enjoy simple pleasures.  The smells, the lights and the sounds of the holiday
season can bring a lot of happiness to your life.  It is the little things in
our life that makes us the happiest.
    * Renew relationships with family and friends.  The support you can
receive from family and friends can give you hope for the future.
    * See options for yourself.  Open yourself up to the magic of the holiday
season.  Let the stories of the season sweep you into believing the impossible
is possible.  If you believe you can accomplish a goal, that is the first step
toward getting there.

"The holidays can be a source of great inspiration or tremendous sadness.
Try refocusing holiday stress with calming thoughts," said Morgante.  "If you
still feel depressed, call your doctor or nurse for advice.  There are many
ways to regain hope, and hope is the gift that everyone can give and everyone
can receive."

SOURCE  Teva Marion Partners

Judith Richards
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