First, a word about acceptance.  This issue contains an article which talks in part about how whether someone with a chronic disease or disability has accepted their situation can influence not only their quality of life, but their overall health as well.  This confirms other research which has shown that, in general, people with a disability, such as a spinal cord injury, have a higher quality of life if they have truly accepted their situation psychologically.

So, what does this mean for us?  I think it means that those of us with residual symptoms - whether they be mild or severe - at some point must accept the situation and move on with our lives.  I think it means that after a normal period of adjustment, we must let go of the anger, recognize that our lives have changed, and move forward as best we know how.  Does this mean we should never think about the way our lives used to be or the dreams we had?  No, I think it's healthy to work through those thoughts and emotions when they come up, as long as they don't become overwhelming.  Does this mean we should give up hope about getting better?  No, hope is a powerful motivator.  It means we should do what we can to help ourselves while science and medicine advance at their own pace.

At a practical level, this means several things.  First, we should try to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible.  Minimize - or eliminate - alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine; get plenty of rest; eat healthy food; and try to get as much exercise as your situation allows.  At the psychological level, I think we should try to be as active as possible.  Find activities which engage your mind and make you feel good about yourself.  I've found that if I'm busy doing something, I don't notice the pain in my neck and shoulder nearly as much.  Finally, truly accepting our position means recalibrating the life we lead.  We must find new goals and create new dreams to strive for.  Is it easy?  No, of course not, but it is necessary.

One person who exemplified acceptance of his situation, while striving to be better, was Christopher Reeve.  If you read what Reeve said about the time just after his injury, it is clear that he quickly went through a period of despair, but the thought of his family just as quickly pulled him out of it.  The rest is history.  His intense passion to help others and to be the best he could be, is truly inspirational. 

My respect for Christopher Reeve grew immensely a couple of years ago after attending a conference for the Society For Neuroscience.  At an advocacy meeting, I had the pleasure of sitting with the contingent from the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (to be accurate, at that time it was probably the Christopher Reeve Foundation).  Not only were his representatives consummate professionals, but their passion for their cause - his cause - and their genuine respect, admiration, and pride in the man himself, was extraordinary.  Christopher Reeve was able to inspire these people to make his cause their own and work tirelessly to improve people's lives.  His attitude, his work ethic, his passion, his acceptance of what happened, and his refusal to be dragged down by the vicissitudes of life, inspired people across the country and around the world.

Whether you find inspiration in your family, your friends, your work, your faith, or somewhere else; for those of you whose life has been altered by Chiari and syringomyelia, I encourage you to find it within yourselves to move forward with your head held high and live life as best you can.

-- Rick Labuda