Paul Walsh is a new senior citizen who has only just discovered the joy of writing out of personal reflection. His writing is informed by the experience of coping with a neuro-degenerative disease (Multiple System Atrophy), by his faith and by the love and support of close friends and family. Prior to his retirement, Paul focused on technical writing and training as an IT consultant for the final third of a widely varied 45-year work career, which had computer applications, research and training as common threads. Paul can be reached by a comment on his blog at: http://livingwithmsa.com/.

“If it’s too steep, you’re too old” - this was on the t-shirt I bought on a ski trip in February 2005. I had been very active for a long time – I hiked, golfed, skied, biked to work, and worked out at the gym.  I did not know how steep it was going to get!

My presenting symptom, dysarthria (difficulty articulating words), began in Fall 2004. Looking back, I had coordination issues as well, evidenced mostly in my golf game.  In March 2008, I was out west skiing with my son and had a great time. Two months later, my leg muscles stiffened up and balance issues arose - I fell off my bike twice in one commute! That June, I was diagnosed with MSA-P. Now that's steep!

Since then, I have been working hard, mentally and physically, to manage my symptoms and improve my QOL.