Tim Ferguson

Hey JJ,

didn't know that, wish I had watched it. I know he has heaps of kids, thought that it was that that made him crazy!

Helen.

Nothing wrong with his brain- well in an obvious way! Still witty and smart!

great,

thanks for posting.

Helen.

(Richard Fidler rocks!!!)

He is very funny- I know nothing of the background as I am a new migrant, but he made me chuckle.

laughing its the best medicine`!!!

Well put helen!!! its so unpredictable alot of us suffer many different ways some more visable than others!!!!

Hiya

Just to add to this, Tim did an interview with The Weekly Review in June which was the first time he publicly acknowledged his MS since being diagnosed in 1995. So I don't quote it wrong I have posted the link to the article.

http://theweeklyreview.com.au/article-display/Allstar-To-Class-Act/2936

Everyone deals with is differently.

That is an excellent article Amber, thanks for posting it.

HElps to have a life that was and is based around humour.

Helen.

Thanks Amber for posting that article link. This is the kind of thing I'm talking about that is extremely useful when a public figure can use the media in ways to educate people, and in a lot of ways he's done that with being so frank about his disease and attacks.

As far as the other comments in regards to my post, we are all entitled to our own opinions and I respect that. I also give praise where praise is due and stated that Tim does do a lot for MS through things he does with the MS Society. What I was making reference to was that a lot of people may have perceived that comment that MS is really nothing to be concerned about at all, when as we all know it is. He could have thrown something little at the end of that comment to denote that it's not all that funny really, but hey I'm doing the best I can. As I said a simple google it folks may have worked - just my thoughts. I truly hope that people may have done that anyway hearing him just mention MS, and thought hmmm I'll just google it.

I have nothing against Tim. I think he's brilliant and I was quite upset when he left the DAAS because he really is clever and had a real presence in the group. I'm happy for him that he still can incorporate the things he enjoys into his life. But what concerns me is that so many people aren't that lucky. Yes, we all know MS is unpredictible and we all want a cure now, but how are we going to get there and educate the public. The only way I see how is be using people who the general public know and can relate to to get that message out there.I mean look at Jane McGrath and Glenn and what they've done for breast cancer recognition etc;

The vast majority of people with MS are scared of the words 'MS' getting out there to our employers and the consequences of that, and the only reason we are worried about that is really because there is lack of education and understanding in the general public which leads to a lot of people losing their jobs. The only way to change that is to have people who can show that some people with MS can still do these things, but also point out that others are not so lucky. We need this picture to be clear and that it is unpredictible, therefore folks it's ever so important that we find a cure, but in the meantime it's important to support those around us that have MS so they can still work, play and enjoy a good quality of life...

Anyway, that's just my thoughts. If we want to be serious about being understood and about finding a cure, we need people with MS that the public recognise, to get out there and tell their stories. Not to be ashamed of it, or scared of it as that's the exact behaviour that a lot of people with MS have. I'm not saying that Tim has to do this at all. I think the interview he gave in the link Amber posted was fantastic! I totally understand it's a comedy show but just felt his comment on the show may have made people think MS is no big deal.

I remember Fiona O'Loughlin on an episode where she was openly talking about her rehab for drinking etc; she made light of it but also there was a very seriousness undertone. But the difference here is we all know that alcoholism is very serious. She is now narrating a show on ABC called Addiction (on right now on ABC 9.30pm). This is the very place she did her rehab. I think it's fantastic of her to stand up and publicly admit her problem and now is helping to educate others about the thruth of addiction and rehabilitation through this series. It's a really good series...makes you really see about the lives and why this happens to people.

I just wish that we could find a good advocate, a real prominent figure in our society that has MS, that would take that flag and bear it for us to get the message out there to take away the stigma of MS.

Majority of people are too scared to declare they have MS publicly through fear of being judged, instead of being understood. Some people say it's because they don't want sympathy, well in my opinion that may be so in some cases, but in most cases it's more about the fear of being judged. If it was sympathy we feared people would still probably hold jobs etc; but it's more fear based because people are scared they will lose their jobs and more if they come out and admit they have MS!!! This is the sort of thing we need to berid of.

We need people to just understand that our needs may be different. We are the same person but there may be periods of time where we need more flexibility in our work etc; because this disease is unpredictible.

Anyway, I think Tim does a great job and just wish I had his wit.

Yes thanks Amber for posting this. I agree that he did gloss over it a bit, but can understand he may not want to make a big issue.

I really feel it would be good to have some people, some with MS and perhaps medical people to talk more about some of the things etc we can have. Even provide feedback about how it affects their lifestyle and problems they have encountered, and of course it is not immediately the end of the world for people.

Belinda