Norwood father wants to return to work after multiple sclerosis diagnosis | Wish List
The Enquirer and United Way of Greater Cincinnati have joined forces for the 37th year to help families in need with the Wish List program. After wishes are granted, remaining funds assist people with similar needs throughout the year. This is the second of eight stories.
The minor lower back pain and stiffness began about four years ago. Nothing to worry about, Lawrence Shelborne figured. But eventually, as he spent hours on his feet at his restaurant job, the pain worsened.
A doctor ordered an MRI, which showed lesions on his brain and spinal cord. Lawrence wept when he heard the diagnosis: multiple sclerosis. The disease, which has no known cure, affects the central nervous system.
“I couldn’t believe that was happening to me,” he said.
At home in Norwood, the 46-year-old married father of five sits upright in bed, a bag of medications within arm’s reach and a walker a few feet away.
He recounts the fear he felt when MS slurred his speech and made walking difficult. He could no longer work.
Symptoms vary widely among people with MS. Depression is common, and it hit Lawrence hard.
His relationship with each member of his family suffered. He and his wife, Janine, have been married 10 years. They have a blended family of five children, ages 16 to 22.
“I didn’t want to be bothered by anybody,” Lawrence said. “Visitors, no. I didn’t even want to be bothered by my kids. I was trying to figure out what was going on with me.
“I kept telling my wife, ‘I want my life back.’” He had always enjoyed being active, whether working out or playing pickup football and basketball.
He is grateful that Janine stuck by him. She told him that from now on, his life would be different.
Different, but still worth living.
More than anyone, Janine encourages him to keep pushing.
“Everybody caters to him, not allowing him to do things on his own. I’m a little harder on him,” she said. “He may have to do some things differently, or more slowly, but he can do it.”
Medications and infusion treatments treat his symptoms and slow the disease’s progression. His mental state has improved with the help of medication and group sessions at IKRON Corporation, a United Way partner that nominated him for Wish List.
When he most needs someone to talk to, he turns to Janine, “because she understands what I’m going through more than anybody.”
“I have better, happier days now,” Lawrence says.
“I’m trying to live life better, trying to get out of the house more. I really want to get back out in the workforce, even if it’s part time. I want to do more activities with my family, with my wife.”
Lawrence has a nonmotorized wheelchair, but he can’t push it with his arms. A portable motorized wheelchair – one light enough for a family member to load into a vehicle – would provide more independence.
He also would benefit from a new bed, one that can be adjusted depending on his physical condition.
Both wishes revolve around helping him live better, physically and mentally.
Lawrence's wish: An adjustable bed; a portable, motorized wheelchair.
Estimated cost: $5,000.
How to help
Donations can be made online at www.uwgc.org/wishlist. You can also mail donations to: United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Attn: Wish List Pledge Processing, P.O. Box 632840, Cincinnati, OH 45263-2840. Please include “Wish List” in the memo line on checks.
John Johnston is the content writer at United Way and a former Enquirer reporter.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A Norwood father needs help to live better life after MS diagnosis
