31 Days of MS: See the positive, stay strong, and never give up

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by Bionews Staff |

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An photo illustration for 31 Days of MS, where people share their stories of life with this disease.
A woman wears an orange T-shirt for the MS Society's MS Walk over a long-sleeve white shirt. She has a medal with an orange ribbon around her neck and is wearing a cross necklace. Her hair is tied back in a low bun, and she has black and orange face paint on one cheek. She's looking to her right and laughing while standing outside. An orange canopy and a grassy field are visible behind her.

Photo courtesy of Derlene McPhail

Day 7 of 31

This is Derlene McPhail’s story:

Before my multiple sclerosis (MS) journey began, I worked for 15 years as a healthcare support worker for patients living with MS. The first time I heard the words multiple sclerosis, I had no idea what it was or how it affected patients.

In 2020, I began experiencing neck pain and was diagnosed with a spinal lesion with no known cause. Fast forward to 2022, I was studying as a first-year nursing student, had just returned from a holiday, and was preparing to start a nursing placement. Over the course of a few days, I began to lose sensation in my legs and torso until eventually I lost all sensation from my chest down.

I spent the next two weeks going through several tests until it was confirmed on Feb. 14 that I had been diagnosed with MS. For me, this didnā€™t come as a big shock. I knew I fit the criteria.

I chose to accept my diagnosis fairly quickly, as I knew this was the only way I’d be able to face it more positively. I decided that it wouldn’t hold me back. I completed an online placement while I was undergoing investigation, and within a week of my diagnosis, I started another nursing placement. I have continued my studies and am now in my second year of nursing.

Having knowledge about MS allowed me to accept it more. I know stress is a common factor, so managing it is a priority in my life. For now, I’ve chosen to use a disease-modifying therapy (DMT), and so far it’s gone well. However, I don’t think it’s a magic fix ā€” I believe it takes more than just a DMT. I also live a life of sobriety, try to maintain a healthy diet, and regularly keep fit.

I took part in my first 10K MS walk, which gave me motivation knowing I could help others in the same position as me. I am far from perfecting my health and well-being, but I continue to make small changes every day. No matter how tough life gets, thereā€™s always the option to see the positive, stay strong, and never give up.

Multiple Sclerosis News Todayā€™s 31 Days of MS campaign will publish one story per day for MS Awareness Month in March. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more stories like this, using the hashtag #31DaysofMS, or read the full series.