6 days and counting

This time next week it will be all done ..... and so will I, done in !

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999. That summer we (Hubby, Dad and our two children) had enjoyed an amazing end of May holiday in Austria. A beautiful place, lots of walking, including up the small hill next to our campsite. I was a typical 34 year old mum, our children just 8 and 5.

At the top of Austria's highest mountain - the Grossglockner
with Philippa and Michael (1999)

Picnic in the mountains (1999)

The last half term at school suddenly seemed tricky, I realised I needed longer and longer to walk to and from school to meet the children. My legs also began to feel numb and it increased upwards. Our GP and subsequently the hospital specialist were amazing and within a couple of weeks I'd been in hospital, had many tests and the diagnosis given.

And so life went on - it took many many weeks to start walking again but with my families help I could again get to school and back. Some things did not improve 100%, the palm of my right hand remained numb and now 17 years on both my hands feel like I am permanently wearing gloves.

My legs have surface numbness, quite often tremours inside and my walking at times is very slow. The bottom of my feet can have pins and needles when I'm tired, my hands don't always grip things if I'm not actually looking them - not funny in the night when trying to grab the bed covers !!

Heat can be an issue as I feel totally drained and if too hot I lose the vision in my right eye, and without going into any detail there are days when my insides are not so good ;-\

But my life is good - in fact it's pretty amazing - if anything my MS has given me extra strength. I always wanted to teach but things didn't evolve that way when I left school in 1982. As I recovered back in 1999 I decided I would like to restudy and get my teaching degree - and I did, graduating in 2004 the day before my 39th birthday.

Oxford Brookes Univeristy 2004

My facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and blogs are full of our holidays, my stitching, my wine tasting, events I've organised and fundraising I've done. I'm a very positive person and for me there isn't any point or benefit in showing the world the bad days so to the world everything looks good (and it is).

The photos rarely show me standing, it's far easier to smile when sitting down as I don't have to worry about holding on to anything to keep my balance. It's easy to organise events as I am in control and can plan around my need to rest or have quiet days. It's easy to do my cross stitch as it's just holding a needle (so long as I watch to make sure my hand hasn't let go) however I no longer knit as I haven't the movement in my hands.

I am no longer teaching, but am happily looking after our home and my family. My MS was not a reason for leaving but being able to plan my time myself has been a huge help in keeping control of my symptoms. I spend my time writing my three blogs; Aimetu's, Aimetu's Stitching and for the last year this one.

I also run two forums; Needlecraft Haven and Cuvée Reserve. The first being for my crafty friends, a place we share our work including my baking (MS Cake Bake especially) and the second is all about wine - my joint hobby with my lovely Hubby. We've held some great wine tasting events and holidays too, anything is possible with planning and timing and determination!

Holiday picnic this summer in France (sitting down haha)

Stitched gifts for my colleagues
when I finished teaching (2013)

Wine tasting weekend earlier in 2016 with my Cuvée Reserve friends

I'm not sure I would do quite so much if I didn't have MS - maybe that sounds odd but I am determined not to let it rule my life and that being said maybe I try to do too much - if there is such a thing!!

The MS Society is an amazing organisation - looking at their web page alone gives so much support to so many. There is of course all the offline support and advice, the many links to other organisations that can help, the feeling of not being alone and the endless and amazing research. Things have changed so much since my diagnosis in 1999 and with all their hard work there is so much more information and support.

Thank you to everyone who has donated - 25% of all donations will go to MS Society. You can follow their amazing work on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

If you'd like to donate directly to the MS Society please use this link - Donation for MS Society