With MS, always remember to leave a ‘GOTWA’ contingency plan

A friend of mine went hiking alone during the warmer months of early autumn. Before he left, he contacted several of his friends via a group chat and let us know when and where he intended to start and the location where he planned to camp for the night. He then designated a time and place where he’d exit the woods and promised that he’d send a message when he was back home. At the time, I remember thinking that he’d essentially left us a five-point contingency plan.

That plan is something I learned years ago in the Army and is normally known as a GOTWA. That acronym can be explained a couple of different ways, but usually people just ask for your five-point plan before you leave to go somewhere. It may have been intended for military operations, but it also works great in business settings and everyday use.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) may have taken me out of the military years ago, but a good five-point contingency plan is becoming more vital to my life as this disease progresses. Subjecting you to my “aha” moments is becoming a habit of mine, so once again, bear with me.

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Understanding GOTWA

The “G” stands for going, as in where I’m going, which seems like a good place to start. It seems to get more important the farther away I go, but it matters whatever the distance is. I’m unable to drive anymore, so I can’t make long trips on my own, but it’s just as important to let people know if I’m heading to the front or backyard in my wheelchair. Even if I’m just headed to a different section of a store, letting the people I’m with know where I’m going is more than just courtesy.

“O” refers to any others who are going with me. If one of my friends drives me somewhere for a disabled “play date,” it’s important that my family knows not only whom I’m with, but that I’m in good hands. If I’m in a different section of the aforementioned store and one or more of my sons goes with me, it’s vital that I mention it. Even something as seemingly mundane as a trip into a public restroom can require the assistance of someone else, and it behooves all parties that I specifically say who that person is.

The “T” stands for what time I’ll return from my destination. That can be an actual clock time or simply a number of minutes or hours I’ll be away. Whether I’m out with a friend or just on the back porch, how long I intend to be gone is a crucial bit of information for anyone who might miss me. That segues neatly into the next step of the plan.

“W” is what to do if I don’t return at the designated time. For me, it’s generally understood that all my times have a 15-minute cushion on either end, but there’s still a point at which I’m late. Designating both where I’m going and anyone else coming with me is now super-important. It gives someone looking for me a place to start their search, maybe finding another person who might know where I am. Even if I’m just on the back porch and having trouble with the doorknob, the most time I’ll spend worrying with it is 15 minutes. If my wheelchair batteries have become depleted, or if I’ve dropped my phone and can’t pick it up, it’s comforting to know there’s a time when someone will come looking for me.

The final letter in the GOTWA acronym is “A,” which stands for actions to take if either I or the person I pitched the plan to is hit. Outside the Army, I have no intention of either of us being “hit,” but with MS, “hit” can mean different things. Although it’s harder to do so from a wheelchair, I have an alarm set up on my smartwatch that can sense a fall and call designated people. Those people not only need to know that they’ve been designated, but also what to do if they receive a fall message. I can think of other ways to interpret the word “hit,” and I imagine you can as well. Don’t forget to plan for those eventualities.

Thank you for trudging through another military acronym redesignated for MS. I won’t even bother to say that I won’t do this again, because I will. Right or wrong, good or bad, it’s what I know. Now that I also know MS, the two were bound to blend together occasionally.

Please share in the comments any actions or ideas from your past that you apply to your MS present.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.