My name is Maaju Olef Jaegger.  I live in Outokumpu, Finland, with my parents and younger sister, Kjiersten.  I am 20 years old.

I also have health problems.  

I have multiple sclerosis, which affects my walking ability.  Some days I use a pair of crutches; on others, I ride my electric cart (or wheelchair).  It also affects my eyes and my balance.  I was diagnosed with MS when I was roughly around the age of thirteen, though I started having symptoms about two years prior to the diagnosis.

I was really young when I first got sick.  It is rare when MS strikes people younger than twenty, but it does happen, as it did in my case.

It is not easy living with this monster called MS, but I think I have managed quite well, all things considering. I do hate it whenever people judge me or think that I am "faking" my symptoms just to gain sympathy.

 Nothing could be further from the truth.  

Some days I manage quite well (on the days where I only use my crutches); on others: not so well.  Then my electric cart and/or my wheelchair are the order of the day.

I was working at a bank as a teller, but recently I had to give that up when my MS got worse.  Now I sit at home, where I am awaiting my disability.  Have applied for it, but haven't heard anything as of yet.  Hard to pay the bills when I don't have any income coming in.  Right now, my mother and father help, which I appreciate, but I feel bad for them because I wish I could make things easier on them.

Kjiersten, who is seventeen, is in her last year of high school.  She will then take college preparatory classes, then go on to college.  She wants to be a teacher to small chuldren when she graduates in a few years.  Kjiersten is vey smart.

Well, my eyes are starting to bother me again (blurry, double vision), so I will rest.  I am getting dizzy.  I hate this ...  I must lie down and rest.  I will write in here again with more of my story.  Until later, this is Maaju Jaegger saying Nakemiin!

~To be continued.~