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Homepage Calendar 2010

Become part of the Betaplus 2011 Calendar

If there is a belief that can move mountains, it is the belief in one's own strength.

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916), Austrian author

The new BetaPlus-Calendar is being prepared. As always we are selecting images taken by people with multiple sclerosis. The theme of our current calendar is "Waterworld" for which we have received wonderful pictures from all around the world.

Due to the big success and interest we would like to again give you the opportunity to actively participate in the BetaPlus-Calendar 2010/2011.
The theme of the calendar this year will be
"Powerplaces".
We all have our own places where we recharge our "batteries" and where we find peace and harmony. You can send us your picture with your personal "Powerplace" and what it represents to you. You can choose any kind of picture: nature, leisure, living, travel, hobbies, people, culture, friends, family…etc.

Latest uploads

Rachel (60), Croatia

About myself

I had my first attack 6, Jan, 1979, six months befort finishing my Ph.D. in Music.It began with paresthesia in my hands making it difficult to play the piano, a little bit of a problem for a piano teacher. The paresthesia spread to the entire front of my body. The doctor I saw dismissed my symptoms as impossible, and although he didn't say it, I could tell he had diagnosed my condition as "Bored Housewife Syndrome." The symptoms went away after a few months and by graduation I was fine and the symptoms were forgotten. In June, 1983 I married the love of my life and five months later I had another attack. It started the same way. I told my husband I didn't know what it was but I had it before and it's back. This time a different doctor took me seriously and sent me to a neurologist who did some LOVELY tests and concluded that I probably had MS but he couldn't be sure since my previous doctor had not sent me to a neurologist. Eventually a trip to Mayo in Rochester concluded that I did in fact have MS.
Relapsing Remitting continued for a few years, and then as I got older the attacks mostly stopped and I just got worse. In the mid eighties I started using a scooter at every opportunity and finally bought one of my own. Life became much simpler. My condition continued to deteriorate to the point that I was relying almost completely on the scooter. In 2001 we moved to Dubrovnik, Croatia, an unlikely place, and quite impractical for someone who can't climb stairs.
In 2004 Dubrovnik got its own chapter of the Croatian National Multiple Sclerosis Society and at the first meeting a physical therapist offered a treatment called Seltzer (after the doctor who developed it) I didn't know what it was or what if anything to expect from it. I just knew that it included massage, so I was happy to try it. It consisted of lymphatic drainage massage followed by ultrasound, doing the neck (from the front) one day and the back the next day. The regimen took 24 days, and is fillowed by a full body massage every two weeks. As I said, I was just in it for the massages, but suddenly I was able to walk like a normal person and even zip up and down stairs.. I continue to get the Seltzer Treatment every six months and have my bi-weekly massages, and I continue to walk anywhere I want to go. The treatment does not work for everybody, but it does work for some and I am the "poster child" for the ones on whom it works.
After I figured out that I really was able to walk anywhere I figured out that I would be able to enter and attend a church, and even go up to the choir loft and sing in the choir.I am now choir director for the adult choir at the mnastery a few blocks from my house and accompanist and sometimes director for the children's choir. Until recently I sang with the youth choir but quit because I really was working too hard. They hated to see me go and said If I want to join them all I have to do is just show up. (Not bad for a 60-year-old)
I am sixty years old and have had MS for thirty-one years, a little over half my life. Needless to say there is a lot more, but because I have MS, I can't remember it now, so I'll close.

About my picture

This is beautiful Dubrovnik, Croatia where I go to recharge my batteries. My husband and I take a stroll up and down the Stradun (main street/plaza) looking for people we know - friends or relatives. In years past I would have taken this "Stroll" on my electric scooter, but now I am able to take this stroll on foot. When it's time for a break we find a coffee shop with a view and watch people go by - people we know and the many tourists who come flooding by. They are all part of the free show. Dubrovnik is right on the Adriatic sea and sometimes our strolls take us by the sea outside the city walls.

Isabelle (29), Germany

About myself

My name is Isabelle and I am from Germany. I was diagnosed with MS in 2002 and ever since I have been on MS therapy. My family and friends were and still are a great support that I wouldn’t want to miss. They help me to stay positive even in difficult situations.

I work as a teacher for English and Political Science and I really love my job, even though it is demanding. During holidays I love to travel and get to know foreign people, cultures and countries. When traveling I always try to relax and recharge my “batteries”. I can just be happy and forget all my problems.

About my picture

In 2007 I traveled to Costa Rica to visit a friend. Costa Rica is a wonderful country with its beautiful nature. We went on a lot of trips to see different places. There are gorgeous beaches and a great rain forest with lots of interesting plants and animals. Here I would like to present a place where you can relax after you have made it to the top of the volcano. This volcano has not been active for some years, so it is safe to go there. A special view is provided when going to the crater that is filled with sulfuric. It looks like a wonderful green shining lake you would love to dip into; but honestly you shouldn’t do it. Just take a look and enjoy the pretty view.

Isabelle (29), Germany

About myself

My name is Isabelle and I am from Germany. I was diagnosed with MS in 2002 and ever since I have been on MS therapy. My family and friends were and still are a great support that I wouldn’t want to miss. They help me to stay positive even in difficult situations.

I work as a teacher for English and Political Science and I really love my job, even though it is demanding. During holidays I love to travel and get to know foreign people, cultures and countries. When traveling I always try to relax and recharge my “batteries”. I can just be happy and forget all my problems.

About my picture

One of my favorite power places is a little island on the east coast of Nicaragua. It is called Little Corn Island and it is just the most beautiful place I have ever been to. There are not too many tourists, no cars, nice residents and a wonderful nature. People do not only speak Spanish but also English and you can experience a lot of nice things, e.g. take a walk through the jungle, observe animals, go on a diving- or snorkeling trip and enjoy yourself. It is a great place to find some peace and to get away from our stressful world.

Isabelle (29), Germany

About myself

My name is Isabelle and I am from Germany. I was diagnosed with MS in 2002 and ever since I have been on MS therapy. My family and friends were and still are a great support that I wouldn’t want to miss. They help me to stay positive even in difficult situations.

I work as a teacher for English and Political Science and I really love my job, even though it is demanding. During holidays I love to travel and get to know foreign people, cultures and countries. When traveling I always try to relax and recharge my “batteries”. I can just be happy and forget all my problems.

About my picture

One of my favorite power places is a little island on the east coast of Nicaragua. It is called 'Little Corn Island' and it is the most beautiful place I have ever been to. There are not too many tourists, no cars, nice residents and a wonderful nature. People do not only speak Spanish but also English and you can experience a lot of nice things, e.g. take a walk through the jungle, observe animals, go on a diving- or snorkeling trip and just enjoy yourself. It is a great place to find some peace and to get away from our stressful world.

Dana (37), Czech Republic

About myself

My name is Dana. I am 37 years old. I was born in the Czech Republic and most of my life I lived there, except some time spent in Switzerland, USA, Australia and some other places.
I work at the Czech Technical University in Prague as associate professor. I am teaching ecology of urban watersheds, ecotoxicology and chemistry. Except of teaching, I am doing research in the field of the environmental science. I am focus on quality of our rivers and creeks.
I love travelling and hiking, I enjoy swimming and skiing, but my biggest hobby is photography. Most of my pictures are related to nature, I am trying to catch up the exceptional moments spent in nature and through my pictures I try to share with people, all the beauty of nature which I can see. I hope that with my picture people, who are not as lucky like me, and do not have possibilities to get to these places, can enjoy the beauty and recognize that Earth is a wonderful place to live. And also I am trying to show people that MS (even you life with it more than 1/3 of your life like me) is not a handicap, and even with this disease you can do what ever you wish, if you find your balance. You can even climb mountains and go backpacking to Grand Canyon, but you have to trust yourself and do not give up.

About my picture

My Power place is nature generally and I always feel that I am really charging my batteries if I am in nature. The best way for me is to take my backpack and my camera and go hiking. As I am getting older I am enjoying every flower, small stream, tree or just a beautiful rock. The picture shows for me one of recently visited place, where the energy is present in every rock and plant. And I hope you can feel part of it from the picture.

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