Speaking out about multiple sclerosis to others who may be dealing with this disease is actually helpful to me as well as, I hope, to others. It builds community, helps bring awareness to MS, and strengthens the MS movement that will ultimately lead to the end of this disease.
I think eventually they're going to find out that MS is like 10 different things. I have a neurological disease something like MS, and it's MS, so let's take medicine for it.
I was trying to work, but I noticed that people, if they had any inkling of the idea that I was sick or had MS... people shunned me. No work after that.
I went to physical therapy, occupational therapy, voice, every kind of therapy except mental therapy - obviously!
I've always had this American-pie face that would get work in commercials... I'd say things like, 'Hi, Marge, how's your laundry?' and 'Hi, I'm a real nice Georgia peach.' Sometimes this work is one step above being a cocktail waitress.
My next book's title is going to be, 'I Have One Foot in the Grave and Another on a Banana Peel.'
My daughter couldn't wake me up, so they called 911. They rushed me to the hospital. They drilled a hole in my head and wrapped a coil around my brain. I was unconscious for a week, and I was in rehab for two months - couldn't walk, couldn't talk. Now I've relearned everything. I'm so happy.
With this disease it is so easy to throw in the towel, and that is the worst thing we can do.
You have to find out what's right for you, so it's trial and error. You are going to be all right if you accept realistic goals for yourself.
I went to North Hollywood High. I'm the original Val girl.
Win or lose, star or not, you wait for your car with everyone else, and waiting for your car is a drag.
I go to Yosemite a lot. To get there, you fly from L.A. to Fresno and rent a car. So I know about Fresno. It looks like the entire city was built in 1946 in three months - all these low California ranch style homes. The whole city looks like that.
