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whatshewasgoingthrough.AsanadultsheworkedintheautomotiveindustryuntilherMScausedhertoloseherjob.Shelosthervisionandherdriverslicenseandfeltherindependenceslippingaway.SometimepassedbeforeCelestefinallybegantoseelightattheendofalonganddifficulttunnel.Shebegantakingadisease-modifyingtherapythatreallyworkedwellforher.AsaresultshegotherlifeandherdriverslicensebackKathyshareswithachuckleCelestescuttingdowntreesnowforGodssakeCelesteandKathyhaveknowneachotherfor10yearsandfirstmetwhentheywerebothhookeduptoIVsataninfusionclinic.KathyheardCelestesmothermentionbirdsoneofKathysfavoriteanimalsatthetime.KathybeganchattingtoCelesteandCelestesharedthatshetrulywantedanAfricangreyparrotmorethananythingelseintheworld.Kathypromisedhershedgetone.WithintwoweeksCelestehadherAfricangreybyherside.KathysharesthatsheslearnedsomuchfromCelesteandsimplystatesShesjustsobrave.KathyjokesthataftertheysecuredthefirstsupportgroupmeetinglocationshecalledCelesteandtoldherIvestartedasupportgroupandImdraggingyourbuttwithmeWhilewatchingCelesteinactionatagroupmeetinghoweveritbecomesclearthatthereprobablywasntmuchdragginginvolved.Celesteisanaturalshebrisklymovesabouttheroomsettingupandgreetingeveryonethatenterswithasmile.PhyllisLogsdonaneweradditiontotheteamassiststhegroupleadersinwhateverwaysshecan.SheandKathymetatapharmaceuticalcompanyeventwhenasKathydescribesTheytriedtosqueezemeandmybigheinieintoatinyspotinthecornerandImanagedtoknockdowntheChristmastreeinfrontofeveryoneintheroom.KathysgrandentranceledhertomeetPhyllisandshesbeenanimportantpartofthegroupeversince.Atthegroupsmostrecentmeetingthereweremorethan60peopleinattendance.HoweverKathynotesIwantothergroupleaderstoknowthatitdoesnthappenovernightandtonotgetdiscouraged.SometimesCelesteandIwouldbesittingandeatingpizzabyourselvesbecausenobodyelseshowedupKathyalsoacknowledgestheimportanceoftheMultipleSclerosisFoundationssupportwhichbeganwithHelenManganalmostfiveyearsago.Kathysharesthatanoutpouringofsupportfromalldifferentavenuesandpeoplehasbeenabsolutelyintegraltothecontinuedgrowthandsuccessofthegroup.KathyshusbandGeneisafixtureateverymeetingluggingsuppliesbackandforthmovingtablesandkeepingthingsinorder.Kathys15-year-oldgrandsonJimmyalsoattendsandhelpsoutatmeetingswheneverhesofffromschool.Groupmembersalsocontinuallypitchintohelpeachotherandthegroup.Whenagroupmemberstransportationwaslateothermemberswaitedwithherforanhourjusttomakesureshewasokay.Differentmembersstepupeachmonthtodonateanitemforafreeraffletobringalittleextraexcitementtomeetings.Kathysharesthatnewmembersareoftenblownawaybecausetheyexpectapitypartybutinsteadgetabouncybubblygroupoffun-lovingpeople.Mostimportantlythesupportgrouphasbecomemuchmorethanjustamonthlymeetingofacquaintances.KathysaysWerenotjustpeopleatthemonthlysupportgroupyougotobecauseyouhaveMSwerefamily.TheHopeandFaithofDearbornMSSupportGroupmeetsfrom13p.m.onthelastFridayofeachmonthattheFordCommunityandPerformingArtsCenter15801MichiganAve.DearbornMI48126.PleasecontactKathyat313-908-7485orkathytromblayyahoo.comNancyat313-982-7674orCelesteat313-410-7518orcmarkegmail.comformoreinformation.3