Fighting MS together

Had she not gotten multiple sclerosis (MS) while in her 20s, Heidi Pittman may still be searching for her soul mate.

When I started getting some symptoms, I went to the Multiple Sclerosis Society for some advice and thats where I met Rick, she says of her husband, Rick Pittman.

He was president of the society at that time. And as soon as I found out he was a pharmacist, that was it, I honed in for the kill, Heidi laughs.

Rick, who is sitting across from Heidi in the couples living room in St. Johns, cannot help but smile.

He served as president of the local MS society in the late 1980s after he was diagnosed with the disease.

While he takes an injection of the drug called Copaxone every day to control his symptoms, its not immediately apparent that Rick suffers from the debilitating illness.

Im after dropping about 20 pounds, Im at the YMCA exercising at least a few times a week and Im just getting better and better, he says.

Heidi is delighted that her husband is doing so well. However, she jokes about being jealous that his MS symptoms are so well controlled.

He keeps getting better and better and better. And here I am working like a son of a gun, trying to get better. But really, hes my rock. Hes such a support for me. Hes so understanding Dont cry , Heidi tells herself, fighting back tears.

While his physical symptoms are well controlled, Ricks cognitive abilities have been affected by his MS, which means he can no longer work as a pharmacist a career he enjoyed for almost 20 years.

Having to explain to people why her husband doesnt work is frustrating, Heidi says.

My wheelchair explains everything, but because people dont see Rick with a cane or anything, they dont see why he cant work. I just wish people wouldnt be so quick to judge.





Like her husband, Heidi has been living with MS for about two decades.

Her first symptoms that something wasnt right were subtle ones, she recalls.

I was playing soccer and I used to be kicking the dirt under the ball instead of kicking the ball. And I started to walk a little bit off balance like I had too much to drink, she says.

While some people felt her symptoms might be the first signs of multiple sclerosis, Heidi initially shrugged off these suggestions.

I heard of people with multiple sclerosis and they all had canes and wheelchairs. I thought thats definitely not me.

However, by the time she received her official diagnosis, Heidi says, she wasnt really surprised.

A former employee of the Alcohol and Drug Dependency Commission, it took a few years before Heidi gave up her cane for a wheelchair. That wasnt a big deal, she says, as her symptoms were still fairly well controlled.

My MS for about 15 years was doing extremely well. I adjusted to sitting in the wheelchair, I was up dancing in my chair, of course, and it really wasnt that bad.

However, less than two years ago, Heidis MS relapsed.

She cannot speak about how devastating its been without breaking into tears.

I went downhill in two weeks I lost the ability to stand and I got really sick and really spastic. I was like the tin man from the Wizard of Oz. It was more to handle than when I was first diagnosed.

Heidi says shell always regret not starting daily Copaxone injections along with her husband several years ago.

Im taking it now since January 2006, but Ill always think that I should have taken it earlier.

Heidi has been hospitalized three times this year. In March, doctors implanted a baclofen pump under her skin at the level of her abdomen. Baclofen is a drug designed to help with spasticity, Rick explains.

The pump injects the drug directly into her spinal fluid, through a catheter, on a continuous basis.

I still have my bad days and good days and, like Johnny Cash sings, Ive been through that Ring of Fire.

However, rather than focus on the negative, Heidi prefers to look at her glass as half full.

Shes grateful that both she and Rick have drug coverage. Their combined medical expenses add up to over $60,000 a year, she says.

Ive got a husband who Ive been in a relationship with for 18 years. Ive got a good support system of doctors and friends. Its not terminal, I can work with it and I wont give up. All I need is time.



danette@nl.rogers.com