Cohen, Vieira, Anderson, Talking MS and Betty White

While I have always been fond on Anderson Cooper as a reporter who acts like a dignified, qualified, reporter, I was reticent about his hosting of a "talk show." But, I checked it out yesterday, and his guests made the show. (Meaning I hope Cooper sticks to reporting, but, oh well.)

Richard Cohen, who has had MS for many years (is legally blind, needs a cane) and lived through aggressive colon cancer, is my favorite MS spokesperson. A reluctant spokesperson, but being a writer by craft, it has allowed him to pen a couple fantastic books* about living with chronic illness. (*Blindsided and Strong at the Broken Places)

It was their usual interview as a couple, he and his TV celebrity-wife, Meredith Viera, telling the same stories I've heard a dozen times before. What I love about him is the fact that he is not selling anything. He is telling it straight about his MS. "...I am better than many."

That's right, if you see somebody walking and talking on a TV show I guarantee you, "they are better than many." As opposed to Montel Williams and his sob story, Cohen has spent time with many people living with chronic illness and he grew up with his father who also has MS. He has been a newspaper reporter for many years, and he has educated himself about MS.

His greatest involvement is with the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center, where he devotes time as a council member. I had never heard of that and after reading about it, I too will help as I can. Their research is cutting edge and will help Huntington's, Alzheimer's and other diseases of the brain.

In the audience, two women asked questions. One of those women is a Face book friend of mine, so that was fun to see. In fact she told me about the show, or I would have missed it. (I would have told you sooner, had I known.) Bothersome was, once again, the "My MS went straight downhill." Uh, NO, it didn't or you would be bedridden right now. I read it on Face book every day, people confusing "progressing" with "progressive MS" and thereby confusing people who know little about MS. (And apparently confusing themselves!) One woman had been diagnosed just 3 years ago, and though she described terrible symptoms (none I haven't long ago gone through), there she stood, speaking clearly---what must people watching think? They think, hey, I have $20 to give to charity, I chose Lupus, people die from THAT! MS looks doable.

Sigh, and so again we shoot ourselves in the foot and wonder why we can't get more money for MS, why we can't find a cure for this debilitating disease. Just, sigh.

THEN, Cooper had Betty White on! What's not to love? Betty White and Richard Cohen, two great love stories. Richard and Meredith, their terrific kids, and Betty and Allen Ludden (he died in 1981 at age 63; they were married 18 years, he was a widower when they met) "...the love of my life." I have heard her say that many, many times. The best comedians have some deep pain, but when you listen to her speak, you just know he is with her always. Betty once said in an interview about Ludden's death from stomach cancer and how she carried on without him, "You just put one foot in front of the other and live moment to moment."

A motto both Cohen and White live by with great success.