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.

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.

Liama McConachie

Mum was diagnosed with a rare, severe and progressive form of MS in 1999, at the age of 50. Initially, our family was relieved as she had been very ill for two years and no one knew why. We suddenly had an answer.

However, her condition quickly deteriorated and she was living in an aged care nursing home by the age of 52. Sadly, she passed away in August last year.

Even though mum lost her battle with MS, I am determined to do what I can so others don't go through the same experience. I want to make sure something good comes from my mother's years living with MS so I have become an MS Ambassador. As an MS Ambassador, I can help raise the awareness of the disease and funds for research into a cure for MS.

Amanda Watson

It was all happening in 1997. I was 25; engaged to be married; and forging a successful career. Then, at the height of it all, my right arm stopped working (my first exacerbation) and I was diagnosed with MS.

In 2004, I had another major episode. It affected my whole left-side and I now use a walking frame to remain mobile. I was also retrenched after 16 years in the banking industry.

It's easy to think of this as devastating, but it actually opened other doors and gave me an opportunity to discover my creative side. I was introduced to the art of ceramics and ceramic painting by a friend and now sell my works.

I am, I can and I will! This philosophy applies to everything in my life, regardless of my MS.

Louise Burnett

I had just turned 24 and was working as a Registered Nurse when I was diagnosed in 1991. For the previous eight months I had experienced what I now know were three MS attacks.

I learnt quickly that I needed to make some lifestyle changes. So, I embarked on a healthy diet; avoided the night shift; and eventually opted for a career change. For the first 10 years, my MS was fairly easy to live with.

I was determined that MS wasn't going to stop me from doing the things I wanted. I travelled overseas, flew a glider, abseiled, skiied, bushwalked; met and married my amazingly supportive husband; and now have two sons.

My biggest challenge is living with MS and the symptom of extreme fatigue, while keeping up with my energetic boys. My family and I face this together every day. I know I can live well with MS - I can be a wife, a mother, and a friend. I just need to think about what I want to do and plan ahead.

Gerard Chalmers

I was 27, with a successful and promising career in the advertising industry, living in Sydney's inner west, and partying hard. I was also starting to wonder why I was experiencing pins and needles in my hands and if the extreme tiredness I was feeling was because I working too hard.

Two years later, in 1999, I was diagnosed with MS. Life as I knew it had changed. I moved to the Central Coast to be closer to my family for support and I continued to work part-time until mid-2006. I have now re-established my career goals and am completing a Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts, with the hope of becoming a drama teacher.

I have conquered many barriers since my diagnosis and live by one rule, I can do anything I want. just watch me!

Tony Maruskanic

In 2004 I bought a share in an aircraft to indulge in my lifelong hobby of flying. I was also diagnosed with MS, after experiencing bad headaches, vision problems and fatigue. I had thought that my symptoms were just part of the aging process.

At the same time, the government-owned employment business in which I had worked for 26 years was sold. Determined not to get myself down, I secured a new job as Operations Manager at my local Aero Club which. This career change was fantastic - I was being paid to play with my favourite toys!

Life was great until the MS monster started to nibble a bit harder. With my symptoms worsening, I came to the realisation that it was unsafe for me to continue flying my aircraft or to drive a 26,000 litre fuel tanker around other aircraft or people. I made the decision to 'medically retire' in August 2005.

Initially, I was devastated, but then I looked ahead and found another passion in life, raising awareness of MS. I'm very surprised that so many people know very little about MS but I am going to change that!

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. I am a member of the Anglican Church Parish Council, the staff representative of the local Health Advisory committee and now an MS Ambassador.

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.

Lesley Dangerfield

My life has been full of challenges. Married at 19, I was a widow by the age of 22 and the mother of a six week-old baby daughter. After experiencing regular stroke-like symptoms for four years, my MS diagnosis in 1984 sent me into denial for the next 10 years. I was 28 and faced with the reality of having a constant "shadow-companion" for life.

Against my doctor's advice, I moved to Darwin and gained my teaching degree while working in the public service sector. I then worked for a group training organisation, developing and delivering training programs for wayward Aboriginal youth. This was a very demanding and high paced role and when I experienced further MS episodes, followed by weeks of lethargy, I knew I had to rethink my lifestyle and make some dramatic changes.

In 2001, at the age of 45, I remarried and moved to the cooler climate of Orange in Central NSW in 2002. I am now actively involved in fundraising for people with MS in my local community and am Vice President of the Central Tablelands MS Branch. Suffice to say, I have now come to terms with my "shadow-companion"!

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 managing a successful jewellery store, engage in social activities, look after my health and wellbeing and talk to people about improving their life.

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. However, 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.

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.

I’m a renowned international award winner as a textile artist and life has turned full circle. I even recently coordinated quilt making, for six hundred Kosovo refugees and had my designs on display in Melbourne.

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 10 years ago but on reflection, I think slow progressive gait changes almost 20 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 work as the Strategic Project Manager for Parks Victoria. I am fortunate to work alongside professionals who are tolerant and understanding. Unfortunately many with challenging health issues are not so lucky. My approach to managing this particular challenge has obviously rubbed off on those who surround me.