Thursday, February 14, 2008

Judge Judy Knows Nothing Of MS

This is a copy of an opinion that I just sent to Judge Judy following one of the cases on her program.

I watched a case in today 2/14/08, in which a Mother had told her 6 year old child that her Father may not be her Father, etc. I agree with Judge Judy. A parent is a moron for doing that, however, I take issue with a comment the Judge made to the Mother after she said she was now getting SSI for Multiple Sclerosis. Judge Judy stated, "You look fine to me!" MS is a debiliatating disease that often takes years to diagnose. It causes one's immune system to attack the mylin that covers one's spinal cord and brain. It not only causes physical disability but also causes cognitive issues. As a recently diagnosed MS sufferer, I was offended. Most of us with MS take drugs either weekly or daily or monthly that are very much like chemo drugs and they make you very ill for hours to days. Some days for people with MS are good and indeed they look fine, some are not. I used to work full time, but have cut my hours in order to cope physically and mentally. I do not plan on SSI until I cannot move.

I don't have a problem with Judge Judy's final judgement in the case, but that was an aweful thing to say.

This is even worse when a well known and popular TV host Montel Williams announces his retirement due to the progression of his MS.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yep, that's a piss off! Kudos to you for sending off that letter to Judge Judy.

I can't stand that type of ignorance - as if all disease must be something to SEE.

Re: Montel - I knew he discontinued his show - I posted it on my blog - but I didn't read the reason anywhere. Thanks for the heads up on that.

I guess all that New Age stuff he was doing didn't nip it in the bud like he said it did. (monthly colon cleanses, specialized IV cocktails)

Plus I know he was taking daily injections too - but I don't know what drug, I supposed it was Copaxone. He was a great supporter of Marijuana too.

I hope you are feeling better and have lost your "bucket" by now. :-)

Callie said...

Thanks, Anne.......Not carrying the bucket but remaining close to the john...LOL...That's what pissed me off about it. I wanted to write more, but it wouldn't allow me. I'm curious to hear the response.

Sharon said...

Good for you in writig the letter. I didn't see that episode, I usually watch her. Another example of people saying stupid things when they don't have all the facts. Shouldn't hock me anymore but it does. Glad to hear you don't need the bucket.

mdmhvonpa said...

One word comes to mind:

Thug.

Anonymous said...

I saw that myself and was very upset with it.

Although I don't have MS I do have major depression, and when I brought a note to my boss saying I was unable to work, he later remarked to my mother over the phone that I looked just fine to him.

Of course, my mother was calling to tell him I was in the hospital. Go figure...

I hope she actually reads it. I have a sneaking suspicion it'll take more than a letter to grab her attention...

Diane J Standiford said...

WOW, Did not hear/read that about Montel. Excuse me is I smile, but I am sick of celebrities just diagnosed, saying how they are beating MS this or that way. MS COMES AND GOES for the majority, some will have a benign course, some will have lots of problems,ARGH,where is Teri Garr? The (Montel was not on Copxone, but can't remember if it was Avonex or B, they all get $$ to speak from the drug companies, Sqiggy too, until enough years pass they fall into nornal progression and drop out of sight, after getting $$ for their books forst of course)forgot what, oh, I saw that J Judy,Judy does that for fibromyalgia too and Rose O'Donnell trashed on restless leg syndrome on The View. "We look so good." I 2nd Anne: KUDOS

Taxingwoman said...

Hi! Callie Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm sick of people telling me I don't look sick. I was very rude to one person who kept saying it. I asked them if I should come into work in a hospital bed with an IV and an oxygen mask .

I look forward to Judge Judy's response.

Anonymous said...

It's people like that (Judy) who perpetuate the ignorance amongst the general public of just how debilitating a sometimes "invisible" disease like MS can be.

I thought she was smarter than that. Those 5 words (you look fine to me) dropped her several rungs down the ladder of intelligence in my book.