Engulfed in a dream so vivid, I found myself running for my life in a dense rainforest. A man, brandishing a machete, pursued me with a singular focus on my breasts.

Gasping for air, I woke up, relieved to realise my breasts were intact. But then came the jarring realisation: the tumour in...

Every word we utter. Every phrase we choose to convey our feelings, comes with an inherent energy.

Words can lift our spirits when we're down. Or further sink us when we're already struggling.

They can rally us, giving us the strength to push forward. Or they can weigh us down,...

What is the most important ingredient in living well with chronic illness?

Your mindset.

I know this to be true. MS and breast cancer are two completely different diseases. Yet they have one thing in common. My mindset.

I spent 25 years learning how to use my mindset to live well with MS. When...

 I still vividly remember those long weeks in the hospital bed.

An aggressive MS relapse had taken an immense toll on my body, leaving me paralysed. Day in and day out, I'd focus all my energy, trying to wriggle my toes, hoping to see even the slightest movement.

But nothing...

 You are alone.

At times, this is an inescapable reality.

You may have the unwavering support of family and friends. You might be backed by an exceptional team of doctors, allied health professionals, and natural therapists. Yet, in the face of chronic illness, there will be...

The memory of the first time I used a walking stick in public still lingers. I was navigating a busy supermarket car park when a man began walking toward me. Expecting a smile, or a pleasant hello, I was taken aback when he said, “Can you go any slower?”.

Embarrassed and...

Thank goodness I have multiple sclerosis (MS). 

I never thought I would say that. Especially just after being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.

There is no denying MS has complicated dealing with cancer, from the options of treatments to my body’s ability to cope with another...

Do you ever feel left behind while living with your illness? Those around you continue on with their lives, but your illness is holding you back. You’re definitely not living the life that you assumed would be yours. It is beyond frustrating. For instance, you might find yourself unable to...

Have you ever had an experience that makes you look at life from a different perspective? With a new clarity. That crystallises what is important. What life is all about?

I have. And it isn’t my story of being diagnosed with a life-changing illness. Instead, it was the unexpected impact of...

It didn’t feel right.

When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the process was faultless. After an appointment with a neurologist, he was concerned that the tingling sensation in my leg had now moved to my torso. Within a week, I was admitted to hospital for an MRI and lumbar...

Do you ever wish that you could turn back time?  To whisper words of wisdom to your past self?

I certainly do.

I think back to my 22-year-old self, newly diagnosed with MS and filled with such fear and anxiety.

Then the countless MS relapses, spending weeks and months in hospitals...

Living with a chronic illness can be challenging, draining, and emotionally exhausting.

It can feel like a full-time job with little room for anything else. Constantly managing symptoms, attending medical appointments, and dealing with the emotional impact of your condition can leave little time...