My BIO
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Hello;
My name is Beth
Dagastine. I was diagnosed with MS in 1992 after 3 years of testing and 10
doctors scratching their heads. Looking back and knowing what to look for I
have had MS for most of my life. Not knowing what MS was, I didn't have a clue
as to what to expect or what might happen. Later, when I found out, I was
devastated. Why me? I asked. Well, it was me and now what can I do to fight it
and keep control??? ATTITUDE, keep a good
one.
After being diagnosed and being forced to retire from
the working world I joined my husband in SCUBA
diving. My husband, Gary, had been trying to get me to SCUBA dive for around 20 years but I just never had time
or the ambition for it. But now that I was retired and the kids are grown, so
why not try it. The diving has worked wonders for me both mentally and
physically. It boosted my self-esteem for a starter. Then one day I came up
from a dive around 100' deep. To the amazement of everyone around I could walk
unassisted. That lasted for several days. Now several years later we have
learned that deep diving using air or shallower dives using
NITROX, a mixed gas, allow me to throw the cane
away and walk like a normal sober person instead of wobbling. Sometimes I'm
even able to run.
I have now earned my "Advanced Open Water Certification" as well as a NITROX Certification and several Speciality courses in
Scuba Diving.
I have worked hard trying
to get a recompression chamber for this area. Not everyone can dive and reap
the rewards I have received from it. A recompression chamber could allow a
non-diver to get the same effects as the diving offers. The Chamber would also
be good for diabetics, CP children, burns, stroke victims and many other
ailments. If you would like to make a
Donation please make it out to Multiple
Sclerosis ( MS ) and mail to PO Box 2070, Post Falls, Idaho, 83877-2070 or you
can make a Donation to MS at any Washington
Trust Bank.
I'am also very busy doing volunteer work for MS. I was the Mother of the Year in 1996 for the Inland Empire and also the NMSS Inland Chapter "Walk Honoree" in April 1998. I became the Multiple Sclerosis Support Group Leader in January of 1997, after helping with it since 1993. We meet the 2nd Monday of each month, except June, July and August, at the Hot Rod Cafe (208-777-1712), 1610 E Schneidmiller Ave, Post Falls from 11 AM to 1 PM. Please come and join us as we are one big MS family.
In December 1998 a MS friends husband asked if I could get more publicity out about MS. I already write a monthly MS article for 5 newspapers and thought of a Quilt. So now working on Quilt no. 4 and you can see the first 3 on the Quilt Link. I call these the "MS Awareness Quilts" and have taken them to Phoenix Arizona twice, Chicago Illinois, Montana, Spokane Washington, Colorado Springs Colorado, and San Diego, California.
I tried Betaseron
and Avonex and now I'am on Copaxone and
doing very well with it. The shot everyday is well worth it.
I have 2
grown children, 4 grandchildren ( 3 handsome boys and 1 beautiful
girl).
In February 2000 I was contacted by Teva NeuroScience, who is the manufacture of Copaxone, to become a MS Advocate. I attended training in Phoenix, AZ , and have been very busy with it and have attended other MS Seminars and training in Chicago, Colorado Springs, Colorado, San Diego, California, San Antonio,Texas and Fr. Lauderdale, Florida.
In Sept.
2000 my husband, Gary, got me a pool at Prianos in
Coeur d' Alene. It is 12 ft. wide and about 5 1/2 feet deep. I go in it each
day and the water is between 62 and 68 degrees. I do exercises and keep motive
for 30 mins. I don't go up the ladder to good at first but afterwards do great.
It takes awhile, 1/2 to 1 hour or so, and then I can walk great. My "Core
Temperature" comes down. Those of us who have MS don't do well in the heat and
do better in cooler temperatures.
February 2001 my husband, Gary, designed and built the First MS Parade Float that we are aware of. You can see the float's progress as well as the Stomp Out MS logo at Stomp Out MS Float with Pictures and Logo. We were in the first parade May 26, 2001 and then June 2, July 4th, July 28th and then November 23, 2001. We received a Honorable Mention and Most Original Idea, 4 First Place and 1 Second.....YAY.
The 2nd year,2002, we have been in 8 parades receiving the Sweepstakes Award in the Spokane Lilac Parade, 4 -1st of which were the Fred Murphy, Post Falls Days, Rathdrum Days and CDA Xmas Nite Parade, 1 - 2nd was the Hayden Days and 2 nothing which was the Cda 4th of July Parade and the Stateline Border Days.. This is all built on Donations and if you would like to help, "Please" make a Donation to Multiple Sclerosis at any Washington Trust Bank, or mail to PO Box 2070, Post Falls Idaho 83877.
The 3rd year,2003, my hubby designed and changed the float. (You can see it if you go into Floats.) We were in 8 parades this year and have received the Sweepstakes Award for the Spokane Lilac Nite parade, 1st and Grand Prize for the Fred Murphy Days Parade, Nothing for the Post Falls Days Parade, The Car Show we received Most Modified,1st for the Cda 4th of July Parade, 1st for the Rathdrum Days Parade, 1st for the Hayden Days Parade, Grand Champion for the State Line Border Parade. The CDA Xmas Nite Parade in Coeur d' Alene we got First place for the Best Use of Lights. Mary Deacon represented everyone with MS and was in the Spirit Lake Parade on her decorated scooter with her "Stomp Out MS "T-Shirt on and received 1st Place !!!!! Fantastic and way to go Mary--we are all very proud of you!!
The 4th year,2004, in the Parades and we received a 3rd place for the Float and the Sweepstakes Award in the Spokane Lilac Parade in May. Then we were in the Fred Murphy Parade and received nothing. In June we were in the Post Falls Days Parade and got a First for the Float and it was a cold and rainy day. In July we were in the 4th of July Parade in Coeur d' Alene and received First. Then we were going to be in the Rathdrum Days Parade but Gary had to work. Then we went to Deer Park, Washington and it was a nice day yet the winners were lost....which was o.k. as we met many wonderful people and able to talk to a few with MS. We were in the Hayden Days Parade and the Float pooped out. After awhile Gary got it started and we were able to finish up. We were in the Athol Parade and then Stateline and received a First for both.We were in the Cda Xmas Nite Parade and being at the parades people are able to talk to us about MS and get information. Mary Deacon represented everyone and was in the Spirit Lake Parade with the "Stomp Out MS" t-shirt on, decorated her scooter and "again" received First Place !!!! Fantastic and we are all proud of you Mary.
The 5th Year,2005, my hubby changed the float's again with Snoopy sitting on his dog house and shooting down a plane that has Multiple Sclerosis written on it. We were in the Spokane Lilac Parade again and got First Place. There was not a Fred Murphy Parade in June yet we were in the Post Falls Days Parade and received First Place. We wanted to take the float to Deer Park again but we flown to San Diego for a MS Seminar and unable to attend. Then in July Gary had to work in the 4th of July parade so we were unable to attend with the MS Float. We were then in the Rathdrum Days, Hayden Days and Athol Days Parades and received First Place for each. Mary Deacon was in the Spirit Lake parade, again, representing everyone with her "Stomp Out MS" T-Shirt on and received a First Place Trophy for her decorated motorized scooter. Fantastic Mary !! and we are all proud of you. Then we were in the CDA Xmas Nite Parade and with the new smaller MS Float in St. Regis for there Xmas Nite Parade and received a nice plaque and first place. So it has been a busy year for parade's and off for the winter until spring of 2006. With the smaller Stomp Out MS parade float we will beable to go to different area's.
The 6th year,2006, we started early for the parades. There was the First St. Patrick's Day parade in Cda, Id. It rained, hailed and snowed but we still were in the parade with the new Little Stomp Out MS float (if you go into no. 13 of the directory "Stomp Out MS" floats you can see the smaller float). Gary drove the float with Chris (our grandson) and I riding our recumbent bike's behind. Then the Spokane Lilac Nite Parade and we received the Non-Commercial Sweepstakes Award. On 6/3/06 their was the Post Falls Days Parade and we received the Non-Civic Float 1st. Plaque. July 4th the Cda Parade, July 15 Rathdrum Days , July 29 Hayden Days , July 30 Harrison, August 12 Athol Days, Spirit Lake Days, and Xmas Nite Parade in Coeur d' Alene. It has been a busier year with parades, with some out of town we were unable to go to yet possibly in 2007. We did very good at the parades receiving many plaques and ribbons. So next year my hubby is thinking of something new to have on the floats...Snoopy will be put away and served very well.
The 7th year, 2007, we are starting with new design's on both float's. My hubby has made Mother Goose with cartoon characters around her stating: "Multiple Sclerosis is NOT a Fantasy it is REAL". March 17 we were in the St. Patrick Day parade in Cda with the little float and our Grandson Chris drove it. May 19 the Spokane (Nite-Lilac Parade with both floats, receiving the Non-Commercial Sweepstakes Award. June 2 the Post Falls Days parade with the small float, June 23 the Hayden Days Parade receiving a 1st Plaque in our division, July 4th the Coeur d' Alene 4th of July with both floats receiving a third in our division, July 21 the Rathdrum Days with the small float, July 28 to Dear Park Washington with the small float, July 29 Harrison Days with the small float getting 1st for Most Unique Float. On August 11 we did the Athol Parade with Chris (our grandson) driving the little float and received a 1st place Ribbon. November 23 we were in the CDA Xmas Nite Parade seeing many and enjoying the happiness this time of year.We have done very well getting the word out about MS. We received several plaques and ribbons through the year.
The 8th Year, 2008, we are still using Mother Goose with the saying "Multiple Sclerois is NOT a Fantasy it is Real". March 15 we were in the St. Patrick Day Parade in CDA with our Grandson Chris driving the smaller float and I riding one of the Recumbent Bikes along side of him. May 17 was the Nite Spokane Lilac Parade with the Large and Small Floats. On June 7 Post Falls Days (rained so Gary drove the smaller float),and June 21 Hayden Days with only the big one as Chris is on vacation..