Journaling reads: In the whole scheme of things, a bout with Bell’s Palsy seems so minor, so

nothing. But in my tiny, little corner of the world, it was something. It was scary.

I went to bed on a Sunday night as I did any other night and woke up Monday morning with half my face frozen. I wondered if I’d had a stroke during the night, which was enough to make me have another one right then and there. The fact that I was due to undergo an MRI that very afternoon to diagnose multiple sclerosis pretty much meant my entire day was going to stink. And stink it did. As did the next several weeks. But when all is said and done, as weird as it sounds ... I’m glad it happened. Yes, I could have done without the unblinking eye and the lopsided face and the deformed mouth (which did come in handy for Halloween, I admit) but despite those things, it was an eye opening

experience (pardon the pun). I learned to trust my doctor. I was reminded that those who matter see beyond physical appearance. I discovered that

what at first seems horrific soon becomes ordinary, especially in the eyes of children. I found myself to be pretty resilient. And I realized, in spite of my twinges of doubt, that my husband will love and desire me, no matter what. Bell’s Palsy and all of its manifestations ranks pretty high up on the “this sucks” meter. But it was temporary, unlike MS, which it turned out I did not have. So, I’m grateful for a temporary bump in the road instead of a permanent one. And the next time something on that “suck” meter strikes, and there’s bound to be a next time because let’s face it, !*%#$ happens, I’ll think back to this episode and take what I can from it to get me through. Life is what you make of it, so you might as well put on a happy face, even if it is a bit crooked.