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...
Knowing that later this week is World Health Day, I decided to visit the World Health Organisation website and search for ‘chronic disease’, which they refer to as noncommunicable diseases.
I’m not usually into stats (definitely when it comes to Stage 4 breast cancer), but I...
Who am I? Why won’t I speak up? Where’s my voice gone? Why the tears?
This is what was running through my head so many times as I lay in a hospital bed.
In the early years of MS relapses and hospital stays, it felt like the real me. The one that was getting promotions at work,...
Being diagnosed with a life-changing illness is not fair. Your life will never be the same again.
Your plans and dreams for the future are suddenly disrupted. The unpredictability of new symptoms and treatment plans impacts your daily life. It can make going to work, socialising and doing the...
The last couple of weeks have been tough. Tears were welling in my eyes for no apparent reason. Simply scrolling through reels on my phone could set me off. I wasn’t prepared for the emotional rollercoaster. Yet on reflection, it is not surprising.
As I share my story, I’m sure...
In living with chronic illness, medical tests become part of your life.
You may be searching for a diagnosis. Experiencing new symptoms and seeking answers. Or routine tests to monitor activity or progression.
In every situation, the process of medical tests is stressful – from having the...
