23 year old's essay wins national contest

: "Writing an essay asking judges to select her father as the Multiple Sclerosis Foundations top caregiver of the year brought back lots of painful memories for Amber Christman, but the tears she shed while writing the essay were long gone Friday night when the Christman family enjoyed the rewards of Ambers labor.Ambers essay beat out 150 others from all across the country, claiming first place in the MS Caregivers Night Out contest. The reward was a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant of the Christmans%u2019 choice.

Amber, a cheerful 23-year-old Conwayite, graduated from Conway High School and attends Coastal Carolina University part time. She was diagnosed four years ago with multiple sclerosis after undergoing an MRI that was scheduled after a routine eye test showed symptoms of a brain tumor.

Learning she had the sometimes-debilitating disease wasn’t the first bone-jarring lick Amber has taken in life.

Her mother Jayne Christman, a first grade teacher at Pee Dee Elementary School, died when Amber was only 13.

“It was the summer right before high school and so that was extremely hard,” she said.

Through every setback that Amber has taken in life, her dad has always been there to support and encourage her. Although his words to his daughter might seem strange to some, Amber always accepts them with a laugh and says they relieve her fears.

“Be tough. Take it like a man!” are his favorite words of encouragement for her.

Her ready response is, “I always do.”

Christman said he doesn’t allow his real feelings to show.

“You got to keep on laughing,” he said, adding that he’s afraid if he even once gives in and feels sorry for Amber, she’ll stretch out in their recliner, pick up the television remote control and never get up again.

Christman said he enjoyed 23 years of the happiest marriage any man ever had before his beloved wife died. Suddenly being thrust into the role of Mr. Mom was a huge blow to him, but his trouble wasn’t over.

His paternal responsibilities mushroomed again when Amber grew tired for no apparent reason. Her once good grades tumbled to C’s and D’s. She continues to be confused at times, has periodic problems with balance and can no longer drive herself to school.

Dave is able to work only 14 or 15 hours a week researching timeshare at the courthouse, fitting it in between trips to three doctors and physical therapy sessions, cooking for the family and driving Amber to and from her CCU classes.

“If I had a real job, I’d get fired,” he said.

Christman said the first 19 months after they learned that Amber had MS were terrible. He spent all that time fighting his way through bureaucracy trying to get his daughter on Social Security disability.

They also had to find the right neurologist for Amber and settle on the proper medication, which took what seemed like an interminable amount of experimentation. For the first two years she battled a headache that never let up."more