Positivity: MS patient finds therapy in canes
From Seattle (HT Daily Good e-mail):
Man carves more than 300 for those with disease
Last updated October 1, 2007 9:19 p.m. PTIt all began when he needed a cane and a way to occupy himself.
After Mike Hunter, 56, was diagnosed seven years ago with multiple sclerosis, it progressed faster than he thought it would. The disease attacks the brain and spinal cord, affecting muscle control and strength, vision, balance, feeling and thinking. Hunter soon had to give up much of his active lifestyle. Hunting, fishing and hiking became almost impossible. Traveling six months out of the year for his sales job had to end when his weakening legs collapsed under him at airports.
When he no longer could walk without using a cane, Hunter didn’t like the options for sale and decided to make one. He used a four-wheeler to navigate through the woods he once easily walked and gathered branches. He took them back to his home near Wenatchee and began to carve and sand and treat the wood. Soon, he had several smooth, unique canes to choose from.
During a visit to his doctor at Evergreen Medical Center in Kirkland, nurses in the multiple sclerosis clinic admired his cane. So he donated what he had for other patients to use.
For the past two years, Hunter has carved and donated more than 300 canes for the clinic, each one different, and each one with Hunter’s own special touch.
Monday, the medical center and the multiple sclerosis clinic surprised him with two awards to thank him for helping so many patients.
“It was depressing for me to wind up with MS after all these years,” he said. “My intent was to help people, and it’s helping far more than I thought.”
Hunter’s wife, Terri, said the hardest part of her husband’s diagnosis was when he had to stop working, and doing something that can help people gives him a new sense of purpose.
“The challenge of what he faces now has turned him into a different person I didn’t know was in him,” she said. “I’m happy he’s able to do something for people and is being recognized for it.” …..
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