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Show 1a HILL TOP TIMES Friday, Juw 28, 1985 0isffirnby1i,'pin) seCTc feir Iheir ooolJsGSD tall Demies By Jean Williamson Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office he has a smile that warms your heart and eyes that dance when she talks. But Shelley Gailey's legs can only dance very slowly now as part of muscle strengthening ther apy for the multiple sclerosis which has attacked her body for the past 10 years. Shelley performs her secretarial duties in the Directorate of Distribution's Services Support Section with quiet efficiency and calculated courage she's determined, to be a winner. Her positive attitude affects not only her coworkers, but people throughout the directorate. Linda Lee, who handles protocol and public affairs for the directorate, is lavish in her praise for the way Shelley handles her physical problems. "She's an inspiration to everyone associated with her. She's happy and enthusiastic about continuing with her ballet dancing and taking care of her family. Being around Shelley makes you put your own problems into perspective you find you really don't have any," Linda said. Shelley 's encounter with MS occurred 10 years ago when life for her tasted good. Shef was married, had one child and was pregnant with another. And, she was in love with dancing. "It was my whole life that's all I wanted to do," she said. Shelley had taken dancing, baton and piano for 18 years and taught ballet, jazz, tap, disco, and aerobics. 1 . For Shelley, teaching baton to the kids was special. She liked to walk alongside them in parades so the horses wouldn't run them over. At the 1975 July 24th parade she was walking alongside the kids when her foot involuntarily turned to the side. "I was okay after a few minutes," she said, "but I had to ride the rest of the way." "About that time I also noticed a difference in my baton twirling during teaching. I would twirl, but it was like slow motion. My class and I cracked up laughing at how funny it looked." I went to doctors, but they couldn't diagnose anything." Shelley's physical activities gave her a close awareness of her body that told her something was wrong. But, it would take seven years before doctors could tell her the cause MS. "It was devastating for me," she said. "I could hardly talk about it then. But, I decided I wouldn't sit around and dwell on my physical problems. Work has been a lifesaver for me. I know if I were sitting home every day I'd think about my problems and feel sorry for myself." And Shelley doesn't want other people to feel sorry or pity her. "Everyone has their own battle to fight in life," she said, "something they must cope with mine is just a little more noticeable." For Shelley, the battle with MS has been uphill all the way, complicated by a very serious 1 I M U.S. Air Force Photos by Gregg Vixom bicycle accident when she was young. She was in the hospital for 10 days and since then her knees have never been the same. Two years ago an operation repaired one; the second had surgery a month ago. But recovery is slow and means walking with crutches. "The healing and the MS fight each other," Shelley said. She appreciates the kindness and help base people have shown to her. "Since I came here last December, everyone has been great from my secretarial schooling at Bldg. 1279, to working in Bldg. 849, to my present job here in Bldg. 830 everyone has accepted me," Shelley said. "People have been terrific. Having a handicap is just inconvenient. I feel no different than before, but now instead of taking five minutes to get somewhere, I take 10." Shelley's hobbies are dance, piano and reading. Her most avid supporters are her family, her husband, Dale, and her four children, Can-dicTiffany, Trevor and Brittanie. "They're a great help," she said. "When I get home most of the work is done." Even now when you talk to Shelley about her health or associated problems, her concern is not for herself, but how to get everything done and her family ready for their upcoming V vacation to Colorado. ; , From now on when you talk about winners, include the name Shelley Gailey. For as long as courage and determination count, she'll be one. e, 1 J |