CCSVI keeps helping me recover old memories.   I hope the memory is clear.  And I hope that I find a good message through the vision.

Today, people use Bluetooth for cell phones.  We talk and talk and go on like nothing is unusual.  Whatever the conversation, we are having it, no matter how private or intimate.   But before Bluetooth, some had a wired headset.  And these did not have the universal acceptance of the today’s technology.

I was working at a major retailer (who has since gone out of business) and they liked my part time contributions.  George, a boss who I gladly call a friend, wanted to recruit me.  He did not tell me about this idea, but he asked me to a lunch with the big boys.  I was excited.

I had joined George at one location and we hit it off wonderfully eventually.  He had seen me work and loved what I did.  But he had some initial resistance to me.   I did not know or care why, it was a job for my rep firm and he was the boss.

One night we went to dinner, had a couple of drinks, and all was good.  At the end of dinner, he admitted, “You know, when I met you, I did not like you.  I thought you were an uptown snob.  But once I got to know you I realized you were just as sick as me.”  Shortly thereafter, I left the firm and joined his team with George. 

One day, I came to the store and George was gone.  He had been moved to another store nearby.  However, we were getting close to Thanksgiving.  The new manager and I did not like each other.  I had a wife and I wanted this job to get extra dollars for the house.

Black Friday is the biggest retail day every year.  I did not care. My boss had been fired.

Pardon me for changing direction for a second.  I learned something early on my professional life: hire your boss.    If you do not like the guy doing the interview you may not like working for him.

Same thing applies to your doctor.  If you do not like him, can you get another?  I have fired 2 neuros.  I knew too much family and spent more time on that than MS.  Another because of a language issue.  Both I consider brilliant, but I am happier with who I have now.  She may not embrace CCSVI, but her team is coming around.

Back to memories, I show up at George’s store Black Friday.  He greets me, and I say I have rehired him and fired the other guy.  I’m ready to work!  I outsold everybody that season and I worked part-time.

So a couple of months later, I am asked to lunch.  On the way over, my other job called.  I had an early flip phone.  And a wired headset.  I get out of the car having a very passionate conversation.  I am talking professionally, but specifically to the headset.  Or so I thought. 

The conversation continued as we I walked to the table.  George and the corporate heads were waiting for me.  I hung up and noticed George motioning behind me.  I sat down, met everyone and had a great meeting.  We discussed future projects and what my role could be.

Lunch broke and George was smiling.  We walked to my car and he asked if I knew what happened.  I told him I thought the lunch was great.  He agreed, but asked about my walkup.

“I saw that.” I responded.  “What were you signaling?”

“Nothing except everyone thought you were nuts because you were talking to yourself,” George responded. 

It was a technology store and nobody had seen this product? 

I guess so.

I write this as a cute story, but also to show that even the best brains can miss the new ideas.  CCSVI is a new idea to most neuros.  They did not train for MS being a blood flow issue.  It is an autoimmune disorder.

Hence, they fight the idea because it runs counter to their training.  Upon seeing improved patients, the Chinese water torture procedure will show them the light. 

We are not crazy, rather we see a new alternative to better lives.

CCSVI looks to be a step to a better life for many with MS.  It may not be THE ANSWER, rather a part of a new view that can cure us all.

All good things in life start with one thing:  a step.

CCSVI is a leap forward and I pray a new way to a prayerfully better life.  My life has improved.

We need to know our surrounding, but stay focused on improvement.

Power to the People.  Power to the Cure.