Are you sitting comfortably? … a personal thank you
World MS Day is on 30 May, and brings the global MS community together to share stories, raise awareness and campaign with everyone affected by MS - with activities taking place throughout May and early June.
The poem below and artwork have been created by international artist Tessa Jane, based on her experience of living with multiple sclerosis (MS). This work and more will be on show in May at Delamore Arts & Sculpture Exhibition, which is supporting the charity, Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis, this year (see Music & Art). Tessa’s work will also be on display in Tavistock Library for MS Awareness Week from 25 April.
Blind Panic
The sun reached out and touched my hand this morning
The rich gold rays stretched out across the land, kissing
And caressing the peaks.
The misty hollows waited
My eyes sought each glimpse with desperation
Fuelled by the fear of the unknown
My hand glowed with the warmth and security of sight.
Later the trees looked like a soaring bird
Its feathers stretched out with piercing shafts of light exploding through
Drunken eyes hold these precious moments safe
For who knows what life will bring
(Tessa Jane, Nov 2008)
Tessa said: “I remember the fear and worry of that day, so concerned for my girls and what was happening - no one to comfort or support. My world as I knew it crumbled before me... family and friends trying to help. It was all such an unknown, not understood world I had entered. I was an art teacher. But couldn't teach without my sight. In a matter of weeks, I was unable to drive and felt unsafe in the classroom. A few weeks later the term multiple sclerosis entered my vocabulary on a daily basis.”
Tessa is now an ambassador for Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis (OMS), the world’s leading multiple sclerosis healthy lifestyle charity and has pledged a target of £10,000 with ‘10 for 10’ (£1,000 pounds for each of the years OMS has been in operation). She will be working on a number of fundraising initiatives in addition to Delamore’s support. OMS was set up by Prof George Jelenik, following the death of his mother from MS and his own diagnosis. He was determined to have a different outcome. At the heart of OMS is a self-management program for people with MS, devised to support their physical and mental health, based on clear, practical actions. The OMS vision is that people with MS feel empowered to take control of their health, and make informed lifestyle choices to live a full and healthy life. Visit overcomingms.org to find out more.
Follow Tessa on Instagram to watch her progress and find out more at www.tessajane.co.uk; Instagram @tessajanedesigns @SW_overcomingms; Twitter @TessaJaneDesign; facebook.com/TessaJaneFineArtTextiles