Bits and Pieces

Here are a couple of things that have caught my attention over the past week or so, and some new photos I added to the Wheelchair Kamikaze gallery. Sorry, no attempts at profundity this week, just a few things I hope you'll find interesting/helpful/entertaining...

• About a week and a half ago, I started taking Ampyra, the recently approved drug that's supposed to help MS patients with mobility, but so far I have nothing major to report. I guess this is one of those good news/bad news situations, since one of the drug's major side effects is seizures. So, I really haven't seen any noticeable improvement in my strength or mobility, but I haven't had any seizures, either. Woo hoo... The Today Show did a feature piece on Ampyra, and focused on an MS patient whose ability to walk improved dramatically after taking the drug. Her doctor characterized the patient as a "dramatic responder", but, though I'm trying to do my best Humphrey Bogart, it's looking like there will be no drama for me... Incidentally, though the retail price of Ampyra is an eye bulging $1800 per month, my insurance company approved my taking the drug with a co-pay of only $40 per month. So, I'll refrain from bashing the insurance companies this week, though I still firmly believe that those who occupy the executive offices of such firms all have cats eyes and cloven hooves... (click here for the clip from The Today Show)

• When I was first diagnosed with MS, back in the spring of 2003, I read a bunch of books on Multiple Sclerosis. Some of them were decent, others just loads of crap. Since then, I haven't really been interested in reading MS literature, but I recently learned that Julie Stachowiak, who writes the always erudite, entertaining, and well-informed MS channel on About.com (click here for channel), published a book entitled "The Multiple Sclerosis Manifesto: Actions To Take, Principles To Live By". I decided to pick up a copy, and I'm happy that I did. Dr. Stachowiak (she has a PhD in epidemiology), who is herself an MS patient, has written a book that not only details the latest and greatest in the science and treatment of MS, and how best to manage the sudden status of being a "patient", but is also full of practical suggestions and philosophies on how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life despite the fact that MS has forced its way into it. In fact, the book could surely benefit even those not suffering from chronic illness, as the wise advice it offers, written in a highly personable and very readable manner, should be of value to any human being attempting to make their way down the twisting and bumpy road of life. The Multiple Sclerosis Manifesto definitely gets the Wheelchair Kamikaze stamp of approval (click here to view book on Amazon)...

• The ever inventive folks at Honda have come up with this neato device, which they've lyrically named the "U3-X Personal Mobility Concept". It looks like quite the incredible gizmo, and with a few modifications could definitely help those with mobility issues. I don't know that in its current form it would be of much use for the severely disabled, but its ability to balance and move laterally as well as forwards and backwards is really amazing. The video itself is goofy beyond belief, but it will be interesting to see if Honda actually develops this into a workable consumer product. Perhaps at some point in the future I'll have to rename this blog “U3-X Personal Mobility Concept Kamikaze". Big shout out to Wheelchair Kamikaze reader and fellow sports car enthusiast Charlie (Tuna) for bringing this to my attention...

• I've added some new photos to the Wheelchair Kamikaze photo gallery, which is comprised entirely of photos I've taken with a camera mounted on my wheelchair. The below photos were all taken in Central Park. Click on the thumbnails to view a larger image.