In part, an homage to the concept of WYFP, adapted for KosAbility relevance, tonight I'd like to ask you all to share about your FMP, however you define it. Be it a chronic condition, disability, ailment, issue, challenge...all the info that you're willing to share is welcome here.
It occurred to me that there are a couple of interests served with this format tonight, and if we find that we like it, we might just do it again in a few months. First, KosAbility is a several years' old group, and we have venerable senior members, regulars who've been here for a while, and a growing group of new 'faces'. It seemed that a format that encourages short introductions, without the pressure of a whole diary, might serve well as sort of a get-acquainted cocktail party (you bring the beverage of your choice, but make sure there's enough for everyone - put me down for the Mai-Tai's).
Second, we can all benefit from a better broad understanding of a wide range of medical issues in general (and I must say, we have got rather an impressive diversity of those). Likewise, I hope it will get us all caught up on where we are in our management of our conditions, to include updates, happy news, new information, process, or research/treatment developments.
So please, let me open the floor for y'all to throw out a snippet of information that helps us all become better acquainted with each other (this includes you too, lurkers) and helps to build our collective knowledge and our community. There is one other beneficial side effect for y'all- by all of us having a conversation tonight, you all avoid reading what I might throw out in terms of lessons learned in my paramedic days. I know that you're disappointed at that- you really would have loved to hear about Stinky Bob or the pickle relish guy, or maybe the egg lady... yeah, now that I think about it, you really would love the Stinky Bob story! Ok, you talked me into it- here goes!
It was a really hot day in the middle of summer when the pagers went off for an 'unknown unconscious'..... No?? Stop! you say? but you'd really love it! Really! There were pigs involved!
Fine then, never mind...but that does bring me to one last thing. We need some diarists, and I beg you all to consider a slot. It can be an earlier diary republished, a current issue in your subject matter expertise, new research or treatments, or social/relationship issues you've encountered. I have my pen and calendar ready, breathlessly awaiting the rush of volunteers.
KosAbility is a community diary series posted at 5 PM ET every Sunday by volunteer diarists. This is a gathering place for people who are living with disabilities, who love someone with a disability, or who want to know more about the issues surrounding this topic. There are two parts to each diary. First, a volunteer diarist will offer their specific knowledge and insight about a topic they know intimately. Then, readers are invited to comment on what they've read and/or ask general questions about disabilities, share something they've learned, tell bad jokes, post photos, or rage about the unfairness of their situation. Our only rule is to be kind; trolls will be spayed or neutered.