MS Stories
Rachelle Stern
It was July 1995 when I heard the words that were about to change my life - "you have multiple sclerosis."
My first thoughts were: am I going to be stuck in this wheelchair forever? I was just like any other 25 year-old. I had a new job and a budding career as a Chef - working long, hard, hot hours and I absolutely loved it. However, MS and my chosen career didn't go hand-in-hand and I had to hang up my work apron.
Determined to get out of my wheelchair, I set my mind on travelling and backpacked around Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the UK for eight months with my walking stick and my cousin.
This disease is sneaky and a lot of the time invisible. You just never know what's going to be around the corner, so I live my life as fully as I can.
Stephen Papadopoulos
I was diagnosed in 2001 when I was 22, although I had been experiencing MS symptoms since I was 16, when my eyesight started to deteriorate. At the time I was diagnosed, everything hit me at once. I had pins and needles, blurry eyes and a loss of feeling
in my body.
I hate needles and was petrified when told that I needed to endure injections indefinitely as part of my treatment. After a year of dealing with my MS, medications and depression, I decided I needed to get positive. I commenced working full-time for a film and television company and my social life resumed.
Last year I took my first overseas trip to Europe with Contiki and I’m thinking of doing a shark dive
later this year.
MS is not an old person's condition. I have it for life and I need to make the best out of my situation. It's not the hand you get; it's how you play it.
Robyn Leece
My diagnosis in 2002 was somewhat of a relief, after 14 years of experiencing MS symptoms. It gave me permission to be tired, allowed me to sleep late, and to have slurred speech without having to make excuses for things over which I had no control.
When I was diagnosed, I received overwhelming support from the people in my community, which is why I now want to give something back.
MS does impact my life but at this point my disability is minimal. I am thankful that today I feel as I did yesterday - able to live a very ordinary life, rich with people and activities.
Sonia Fazio
It was 2002, I was turning 30, and it was going to be my year.
How wrong I was. It was the year that I ended a relationship, had a horrible holiday in Thailand, was attacked by jellyfish and diagnosed with MS. I was experiencing the MS symptoms of numbness, headaches, loss of sensation, fatigue and immobility. Not a good start to the roaring thirties I had hoped for.
What I learnt from my diagnosis is that the moment I took responsibility for my life, amazing things began to manifest. Today, I lead a busy lifestyle working in telecommunications, am recently married and expecting my first baby.
Maree Thomson
Facing challenges head-on is always on the top of my mind.
While working as a primary school teacher, I experienced visual; balance; sensory; and fatigue symptoms, resulting in my MS diagnosis. My initial reaction to this was turbulent, ranging between grief and happiness. I am independent and hate ‘not knowing’, so I was pleased to be able to logically explain these troubling episodic symptoms. Later came 48 hours of tears, denial, grief and then not wanting to share my diagnosis with anyone.
However, I faced the challenge head on and continued teaching full-time. I quickly realised my unpredictable health could place unfair disruption to the children in my care. As such, I made the heart-wrenching decision to retire at the age of 39. This is what it is like to live with MS.
I am a people person and love travelling, my dogs and getting my thrills as a member of a classic car club. Despite my MS, I love life and people, and my preps still keep in contact with me to this day.
In 2009, I am representing people with MS as the face of the Victorian MS Walk & Run.
Ross Egan
I was in my mid-twenties - fun loving, carefree and the world was my oyster. That was until my immune system took a wrong turn, resulting in a diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS. With limited knowledge of the diagnosis but fearing the worst, I thought I could be confined to a wheelchair for life.
Fortunately, I jumped right into educating myself about the possible disease outcomes. I was determined to exert some control over this unpredictable disease.
I was never one to "wallow in it" even when the chips are down, so I utilised my determination and positive outlook to walk again following many months immobile. It was not the end of the road, just the beginning. My highest priority in life is to always look forward, never back.
Nigel Caswell
I do not consider myself ill. I'm a normal, healthy person who happens to have MS.
I was diagnosed 15 years ago but on reflection, I think slow progressive gait changes almost 25 years ago were most probably due to MS.
Even challenging and significant mobility issues don't make me to let the grass grow under my feet. I love the Australian bush and although I walk with two sticks, I am still an enthusiastic camper.
I am now a registered Marriage Celebrant and has recently been elected Chair of the Civil Celebrants Graduate Association.
Jan Preston
Relief and grief surrounded the final closure of a 10 year challenge of uncertainty, which resulted in the diagnosis of my MS.
I was a wife; mother; registered nurse; committee member; charity worker; and had a hectic social life. My MS was trying to disrupt me from the important things in life - my devoted husband, children, family and friends.
Despite the unpredictability of MS and having experienced total sensory deprivation, I took control of my fear and was determined to never give in and never give up. My destiny has taken a new and challenging turn and I now teach and design quilts.