Summary Of On Being A Cripple By Nancy Mairs Multiple Sclerosis

“I was 7 years old when the right side of my face went numb, and I started slurring my speech. I felt really sick with "the flu" and was so tired, I kept falling asleep in class. In gym class, I was running, and my legs suddenly jerked up, and I fell down. I couldn't move my legs or stand up. I got some feeling back and was able to walk in a robotic manner. This is an anonymous testimonial of a women that has been living her whole life with Multiple Sclerosis(and for the purpose of this essay will go by jane). “I spent two weeks in the hospital complaining about the "fishes eating my legs," and the wax paper over my right eye. Children didn't get MS back then[1977]. I spent years with neurologists saying, ‘We don't know what

She talks about the progression of MS throughout her life, and gives numerous examples of other people she knows who are also afflicted, and different ways she reacts to them. She ranges from the aforementioned two older women to another friend, Michael (243), providing her readers with a variety of people to identify with. Once she has them seeing themselves in the piece, they are also able to see themselves in her. By seeing the good and bad aspects of Mairs’

In “On Being a Cripple” Nancy Mairs was once what we society would call normal human being. But after her diagnosis her entire life change forever and even though she does have a very supportive family, she still struggles to cope with her disease. Mairs talks about her life struggles when having multiple sclerosis (MS) she has picked an interesting word to describe herself. She explains why she picked the word cripple to describe her and not the other words that would be more accepting in society.

In “On Being a Cripple”, Nancy Mairs, an American poet and essayist, describes her personal battle with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the central nervous system with no known cure. She begins with a personal account of falling into a toilet because she loses control over several motions. Mairs prefers to be called a cripple rather than a disabled or handicapped person, although she acknowledges that this is not the same as others’ preference. She explains her journey from being a young, active child, to losing control of her body and developing a blurred spot in one eye in her late twenties. As her body continues to break down, Mairs tries to stay involved by participating in activities like bridge and

Thesis: Multiple sclerosis brings daily challenges to whomever struggles with it, but with the right team of doctors and medication, it can be maintained.

In Nancy Mairs ' "On Being a Cripple," she deliberates the relationship between the English Language, American Society, and her struggle with multiple sclerosis (MS). Mairs criticizes people for wincing at the word "cripple," and using terms like “differently abled,” because they lack reality and accuracy. She equivalents society’s inability to accept crippledness with death, war, sex, sweat, and wrinkles. Through the usage of ethos, pathos, logos and other rhetorical devices, she effectively tells her story and proves that there is power in words, from which she could come to terms with a new fact of her identity, and to accept the incurability of her disease.

C). Nancy Mairs keeps readers engaged by telling about everything that happened in her life. In addition, she engaged me by learning new information about her MS conditions. She describes the changes of her life from a normal life style since she was young until she become a cripple. The writer used reality examples and details that happened in every day’s life. For example, she has many sharp comments about

In Nancy Mairs short story, “On Being a Cripple”, she reflects on her life handling her disability of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and how it has changed different aspects of her existence. She defines herself as a cripple despite the negative connotations the word may have. Over the past ten years, Mairs has had her MS slowly progress as her body deteriorates. She sees her life as fairly average, but seemingly small tasks have become difficult to her and has required help from her family. Despite their support, Mairs still fears that people's kindness is out of pity. The stigma around physical disfigurement and being crippled causes added suffering to her life. Although the disease dictates much of her existence,

MS is characterized by the destruction of myelin, inflammation in the CNS and the formation of lesions in the CNS.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, progressive neurological disease affecting all aspects of life: physical, cognitive, emotional, and social (Abma). It is known as an autoimmune disease, Where the body’s immune system turns against the body and destroys the protective covering that surrounds nerve cells. This damage to the nerve cells causes many problems for the patient including weakness, muscle stiffness, poor coordination and balance, tingling, numbness, tremors, blurred vision, slurred speech, and memory and concentration problems (Bren)

Multiple sclerosis has conquered the lives of many of its victims, one of which includes Nancy Mairs. However, Mairs writes an essay describing her experience with the disease and how it has not affected her negatively, as society assumes about the disease’s effects. Mairs does not write her essay to make her audience feel pity for her disease, yet writes to allow people to be more accepting of the disease and of people that have it. She incorporates the word “cripple” to describe the strength MS gave her, rather than politically correct or polite words such as “handicapped” or “disabled.” Mairs’ rhetorical structure in her essay allow readers to see a courageous and empowered author in which she has the ability to persevere through experiences

Living life to its fullest capacity was a very important goal for Nancy Mairs. In “On Being Crippled” she examines depression, direction, choice, and family as she went through her battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Not only did she examine her own battle with MS, but she analyses the views that society has on anyone with a debilitating or handicapping disease. For this reason, it is clear that Mairs is speaking to society. She outcasts herself from the rest of society by her comfort with the word “cripple” towards herself. Mairs is able to pull this essay off because she herself has MS and therefore can provide valid evidence on her experiences and those similar to hers.

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the central nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Both have nerve fibers that are wrapped in a myelin sheath. In MS, the myelin sheath becomes inflamed and gradually is destroyed. With the destruction of the myelin sheath comes an array of symptoms that may include numbness or tingling, balance problems, weakness, muscle spasms, and blurred vision.

Nancy Mairs in her passage introduces the American society while including her life struggle with multiple sclerosis. Mairs demonstrates confidence of the condition with which she lives in and her calling herself a “cripple”. Her tolerance of this cruel reality guides her essay through a series of arguments as she utilizes pathos and others to communicate her opinion and feelings.

Multiple Sclerosis, commonly known as MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Scientists have been studying MS since the 19th century. In MS, the body’s immune system produces cells and antibodies that attack myelin in your brain which is essential for the nerves in your brain and spinal cord to conduct electricity to perform its function. The attack on myelin results in vison loss, paralysis, numbness, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, stiffness, spasms, and bladder and bowel problems. MS has varying degrees of severity and affects people between the ages of 20-50, mostly women. Although there are treatments, there is no cause and cure yet.