Encouraging hope as habit

By KAITLYN NAPLES
STAFF WRITER

After a few years of putting his thoughts together, and overcoming the challenge of being unable to talk and write about his story, Bristol resident David Horan has completed his book, taking readers through his ongoing journey of coping with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. “Escaping Quicksand,” encompasses two voices,

Horan’s, and his wife Mary’s. The book is an effort to reach out to readers who may be struggling with MS, and “to inspire others to overcome adversity,” by “always making hope a habit.” “I want people to just never give up; always believe that tomorrow will be better than today,” the former salesman and father of two said. In 2000, when his physician diagnosed him

with MS, the first thing Horan asked was, “What can I do?” After research and trying many possible ways to hinder the disease, he decided alternative medicine was the way to go. Horan explained traditional medicine doesn’t do anything for him. “There is no cure for MS,” Horan said. He visits a neurologist and physicians regularly.

He receives weekly massages to help with the pain. But he has taken an alternative path to fighting his disease. Horan fights his MS through strong faith, a strict low fat diet and as much exercise as his body allows. “He didn’t say ‘What pills should I take?’,” Mary said, when they learned of David’s diagnosis. “He said, ‘What should I be eating, how can I exercise?’ basically how can I make my life better.” Horan said he is “working towards not getting any worse.” He gets up early in the morning and starts his day with a workout at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain. When he began exercising, Horan would keep a journal of his physical abilities each day. After a while, he said he stopped keeping track and would write his own inspirational quotes, or prayers, until Mary had found a course about writing a memoir. Horan said the course helped him write about “various moments,” and he eventually came in contact with a writing professor at Central Connecticut State University. “I always knew there was value in this story, I just needed someone to pull it out of me,” he said. Last summer, Horan and his wife spent time being interviewed by professor and writer Mary Collins; who was able to take their words, and put them onto paper, which led to the “Partner Perspective.” Due to his inspirational attitude and outlook, Mary said she hopes

one day her husband can take on the role of an inspirational speaker. “We are an optimistic people,” Mary said. “We have our dark days, and it is hard to watch David struggle; but how could I not have faith in him. He is just so convinced that he will persevere, how could I not be right there with him.” Mary said she and David have taken on a dark humor, one where they can help each other laugh through the pain, which David explained as feeling like “pins and needles throughout my entire body all the time.” He said the only relief he gets is during his hour massage each week, and when he falls asleep at night. Horan said people have asked him how his attitude is so positive, especially when the disease isn’t going away. “My attitude is the only thing I can control,” Horan said. “My body is

being taken away from me, and keeping a positive attitude helps me. In the end, your attitude is what’s going to propel you further.” He said the title “Escaping Quicksand” arose when he remembered a reference made by one of his physicians. “He referred to walking with MS as like walking through quicksand,” Horan said, adding that when he walks he feels like he is 500 pounds. “Everything is heavy.” Ultimately, the reference to quicksand stuck in his head and eventually became the title of his book; a book he hopes inspires others to “always make hope a habit.” For a copy of “Escaping Quicksand,” email David Horan at dmmehoran@aol.com. Comments? Email knaples@BristolObserver. com.