Page 21 - 2021 Summer CMTA Report

The secret weapon that really makes • As much as possible, don’t let CMT
my life work is my wife, Julie. We have limit or constrain your life.
been married for 30 years. She has • Don’t be afraid to ask for help but
seen the best and the worst of me and always look to yourself first.
she is still here. She knows what may
be coming and she is still here. • Keep physically active and exercise
regularly. CMT will rob your physical
When I am being an ass, she points abilities so do all you can to keep the
it out—not always in the most tactful strength and muscle tone you have.
manner—but she has rights and I tend
to be “insensitive” on occasion. Re- • Question your doctors and caregiv-
ers. If you don’t understand the an-
member the closet.
swers, ask again. Remember, you’re
She laughs at me regularly, even when the one paying the bills.
I can’t see the humor. Julie always has • Nurture friendships and make sure
my back and will help when asked, they feel free to call you an ass when
even when she doesn’t think I deserve you need it. If nothing else, it starts a
it. Everyone needs a Julie in their life. conversation.
With CMT, the need is greater.
• On bad days, don’t bring everyone
So, the advice I would give to anyone around you down. You may have CMT,
dealing with CMT based on my 71 but the world does not revolve around
years of dealing with it: you. Again, remember the closet.
• CMT is eventually going to win most • On the good days, share it with the
battles. The trick is making sure you people who make the days good.
lose on your terms. Don’t just accept,
fight back and look for workarounds. A life well lived is an adventure. With
CMT, it can be a bit more adventur-
• CMT affects many aspects of our ous but that just means the rewards
lives, but it will not define who you are greater and the memories more
are unless you let it. impactful. Jeff and his walking stick

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SUMMER 2021 THE CMTA REPORT