The following blog post was written by Allison Foss, Executive Director of the MGA.
I wrote a handful of emails this week with the subject, “best-laid plans." Is anybody else feeling a bit of déjà vu?
The last quarter of 2021, we were highly focused at the Myasthenia Gravis Association on our great plans for rolling out 2022, which includes the expansion of our clinic services at St. Luke’s Hospital- Country Club Plaza with Dr. Nathan McGraw and at Cox Health in Springfield with Dr. Tania Papsdorf, the addition of our Coffee with a Coordinator in St. Louis, and a few other support groups on the cusp of being revealed. Our virtual capabilities have allowed us to serve and reach more patients, providers, and families than we ever have before and we have some exciting programs coming up!
And then it was as if a slow-moving ball of fire started rolling in our direction, we tried to get out of the way, had a few falls, got back up, walked through some smoke, and then it just all blew up in our faces!
In all seriousness, our plans for 2022 are still in the works, those things are still happening however, we’ve had to pump the brakes due to COVID-19 on some of our rollouts and with some of our regularly scheduled programming. For instance, our SLU Clinic is on pause due to the rise in COVID-19 and the groups we are offering in January will all be virtual.
Living with chronic illness, you are prepared for disappointment as well as equipped with the tools needed for flexibility. I feel like I’ve been living this way for some 35+ years but nonetheless, disappointments can catch us by surprise. A few days before Christmas, I was packed and ready to go to my family’s holiday celebration in Seattle. With COVID-19 rearing its ugly head and my journey taking me through packed airports on the busiest travel days of the year, I knew the right thing for me to do was to cancel. So, through sobs I talked through canceling my portion of the trip with my parents. More sobbing as I unpacked my suitcase thinking about spending Christmas alone. Let it be known I don’t cry easily. Last year I spent Thanksgiving by myself due to the pandemic but I was also in the midst of renovating my kitchen, so my mind was quite distracted. But a major holiday when I thought we were on the road to beating COVID-19 drove me about to my breaking point.
And hence I’m writing this, so you know I survived. And the MGA is going to survive the continued wave we are on with the pandemic and changes to our programming. We are super excited to get to roll out to our patients, families, and providers new ways of service delivery and meet you where you are with your journey with MG. We also recognize that some of you may be at your breaking point with the pandemic, that there are so many emotions and needs that you may be going through right now and we want you to know we are here for you! Give us a call, a text, or an email. We are here for you.
Lastly, thank you for your continued patience and flexibility while we navigate the next best step! We’ll hope to “see” you online soon or in one of our clinics!
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