In 2015, 21-year-old Cass David was working in a Melbourne dental clinic and considering a career in nursing. But then, she began to feel unwell.
“It started with headaches, and then my speech changed. My motor skills deteriorated next. I struggled to play my guitar,” she recalls.
“The maxillofacial surgeon I worked with at the clinic told me to get an MRI. I did, and soon found out I had MS.”
Cass tried to stay positive.
“Negativity and anger drain your energy and push people away. We all face challenges, and I thought, this is mine, but I’ll do my best to manage it.”
Her best meant pursuing her nursing degree and using her experience to help others.
While Cass doesn’t usually share her diagnosis with patients, she knows that her dual role as a patient and a nurse gives her a unique perspective on pain management and resilience.
In the early stages, Cass’s MS was aggressive, leading to frequent hospital stays. But thanks to new medications and self-care measures like a good diet, aerial yoga, massage and osteopathy, her condition improved.
In 2021, Cass and her partner moved to Alice Springs for “the adventure of a lifetime.”
She became a flight nurse with the Royal Flying Doctors Service, flying thousands of kilometres across Australia to provide urgent care to patients in remote communities.
“You see everything from farm accidents and heart attacks to snakebites,” she says.
Cass also works as an emergency care nurse at Alice Springs Hospital.
“I wanted to experience intense nursing now before my condition might limit me. Many people in rural communities have complex health issues, and you encounter conditions here that aren’t as common in metropolitan settings. It’s been invaluable learning,” she explains.
Throughout her MS journey, Cass has received support from MS Plus. The team helped her understand her condition, navigate the NDIS for equipment and connect with others living with MS.
Grateful for their assistance, Cass, now 30, has regularly donated to MS Plus. Recently, she took her commitment a step further by leaving a gift to MS Plus in her Will.
“I’ve received so much help from MS Plus. The research and services they provide wouldn’t be possible without funding. My gift can go where it’s most needed,” she says.
Cass used Gathered Here, free online will-writing service and said it was easy to include a charity. Gathered Here Online Will
“It was straightforward. I’m happy knowing that my contribution will help others in the future.”
Cass’s journey with MS hasn’t been easy, but she remains optimistic.
“I’ve come a long way in 10 years. I lug a 25-kilo ventilator every time I get on a plane, but I can do it. I’m fortunate to be in a better place now, but I know not everyone with MS is as lucky. I don’t take anything for granted. I want to live life to the fullest, and I want that for others, too.”
Could you be like Cass? By including a gift of any size in your Will, you can leave a legacy of your own values. This way you can help MS Plus continue its vital work for a cure, better treatments and expanded services for people living with MS. Cass is now a member of the MS Callistemon League, a group of extraordinary people who are leaving a legacy of kindness, care, and ultimately – transformation.
For more information, contact Laura Henschke at 1800 443 867, email futureplanning@msplus.org.au or visit My MS Legacy
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