Me in the papers

December 31, 2008 Shane Gorman found a new mission in life in 2008. The Ardee, Co. Louth, native wants to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis and to confront some of the misconceptions about the chronic disease.

"People don't know what it is. It's not someone sitting in a wheelchair for 20 years," said Gorman, who was diagnosed with MS in November 2007.


It can take many forms and follow many courses, he said. The 31-year-old self-employed painter and plasterer lost the use of his right arm for several months this year and then regained it partially, only to lose it again.


"It's a horrible disease," Gorman said. And an expensive one. The first medications he was required to take were $2,000 a week. "That's $24,000 over three months," he added, putting the cost in perspective. His current injections are half that price. Fortunately, his health insurance covers most of that.


And he has counted his blessings in other respects over the past 13 months.


He and fiancée Molly Churinoff, a Chicagoan of Russian heritage, went ahead with their plans to marry on Feb. 8. "Many others would have walked away in that situation," he said.


His parents, Rosemary and Vincent Gorman, were over for his 30th birthday last year, but stayed for six weeks following the diagnosis.


"They are very supportive," Gorman said. But they always have been. The elder Gormans had taken part in ILIR rallies to publicize the plight of many thousands of undocumented Irish, including their son who came to the United States in January 1999.


Sister Christine of the Aisling Center was also very helpful, he said.


Nonetheless, Gorman doesn't want to minimize how much of a setback such news is to an active young adult. "It was an awful kick for me," he said.


"But, I'm a proud Irishman. I'm not going to take this lying down. I'm not the sort to stay home and mope," the Yonkers resident said.


One response is laughter. He has recently made t-shirts to raise consciousness about MS. "If I have to use my Irish humor and my Irish sarcasm to do that, then I'll do that," Gorman said. "Some of the t-shirts probably aren't politically correct." And a few reference the hugely popular sitcom "Father Ted."


He believes this is the way to "shake things up." He's angry, for instance, at the costs that uninsured MS sufferers must bear.


On Saturday night (Jan. 3), the Heritage Bar and Restaurant, 950 McLean Ave., will play its part. The proceeds of its annual Phil Lynott tribute concert will go this year to the National MS Society.


"I'll be at the door with the bucket collecting donations," Gorman said of the event that kicks off at 9 p.m. "People can give what they want -- $1, $50 or more."