I Miss Me
By William R.T. Boulton
This is the story of a young man, William Boulton, who in January 2007 fell victim to a debilitating disease.
William is a Central Albertan who first saw a doctor in Trochu, was sent to Calgary and began the long journey from diagnosis through various therapies to “recovery.” His diagnosis was “relapsing, remitting multiple sclerosis;” a tough message to give a young ambitious truck-drivin’ Alberta boy.
One scary side note is that William drove his truck, by his own admission, when he could not feel the gas or brake pedal. He was also losing the sense of touch in his hands and holding the steering wheel became a full-time effort.
William was under great stress at this time, running a business that was not going well, and spending lots of hours trying to turn it around. Appointments with specialists take time and waiting and worrying doesn’t help your good humour.
In September, after a fearful headache, he lost his sense of taste and developed double vision. The return to the hospital and the long hours in waiting rooms adds to the headache. Life is pretty miserable for Bill.
Through all this, his family are the heroes of the piece. His mother and father, and other extended family, are willing to drive him, wait with him, visit him and otherwise cheer him up with a Tim’s Ice Cap or other goodies.
This whole story is related in the voice of the patient. William gives us all the details of frustration and weariness that comes with not knowing what’s next, and when he can expect to feel better.
He is the type of person who is determined to improve, so he forces himself to crawl to the bathroom and the shower, though he suffers various bumps and bruises as a result.
It is interesting to hear, from the patient’s side, about the noises in the hospital. The squeak of the nurses’ shoes as they walk by the room, the bells that ring, the tick of the clock and the announcements on the PA. His body feels cold, his ears ring, his vision is blurry — and lack of sleep compounds his problems. A good night’s sleep is impossible until Molly, William’s girlfriend, arrives with ear plugs. Ahhh. Now that the diagnosis is firm, the therapies begin. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and recreational therapy are used and William acquires the tools to fight back against his disease.
William walks out of his hospital room on Oct. 25 2007. It is due to therapy, care and gritty determination. He has changed in many ways. He loves his family and understands fully what a wonderful support they’ve been. He asks that the reader consider his/her own life and how quickly things can change. How would you react to sudden disability? And how would you support a friend who has such ill luck?
This book may be acquired at www.iwantmyexplosive.com.
It is a detailed and heroic story.
Peggy Freeman is a local freelance books reviewer.