Living between the lines: MS, motherhood, and the invisible load
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Nin and Harry Sambhi enjoy some quiet time together. (Courtesy of Nin Sambhi)
In recognition of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in March, the MS Awareness Month campaign features a series of stories highlighting the real-life experiences of people affected by MS, written in their own words. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Pinterest for more stories like this, using the hashtag #MSAwarenessMonth, or read the full series.
When I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in March 2022, I didn’t fully understand how much life would shift. I was 37, a mum in the thick of raising two young girls, and busy navigating the beautiful chaos of family life. What started as unexplained tingling, numbness, overwhelming fatigue, and a sense that something wasn’t quite right soon led to a diagnosis I never expected. MS arrived quietly but reshaped everything.
Sambhi shows off a copy of her book, “The Ultimate Adventure in Forgetfulness & Fatigue: 101 Ways to Tackle MS Like a Pro.”
Motherhood is already a full-time emotional and physical commitment. Motherhood with MS is a layered, invisible balancing act. My daughters see me as Mum first — the one who finds misplaced school shoes, packs lunches, cheers at assemblies, and smooths out worries late at night. What they don’t always see is what MS demands behind the scenes: the nerve pain, the brain fog, the exhaustion that hits out of nowhere, and the quiet calculations I make daily about what my body can realistically manage.
Living with MS has taught me how to adapt quickly and gently. I’m taking a treatment that gives me hope and stability, even though infusion days can be physically draining and emotionally heavy. But I see them as a choice I make for my future — for more good days with my girls and a longer runway to enjoy the life I’ve built with my husband.
MS also changed my sense of purpose. After struggling silently for months, I realized how isolating invisible illness can feel, especially within the South Asian community, where chronic conditions aren’t always spoken about openly. I started sharing my journey through my Instagram platform, “Invisible Load of Life,” to bring honesty, humor, and humanity to conversations about MS.
That path eventually inspired me to write a self-help book, “The Ultimate Adventure in Forgetfulness & Fatigue: 101 Ways to Tackle MS Like a Pro.” What began as scribbled notes during moments of clarity became a full project rooted in lived experience. The book blends truth, tips, vulnerability, and tongue-in-cheek humor, because sometimes the only way through MS is to laugh, learn, and adapt in equal measure. Writing the book reminded me that even when life reroutes you, creativity and purpose can still find a way in.
My story isn’t about overcoming MS; it’s about learning to live alongside it. It’s about holding strength and softness in the same hand. It’s about choosing presence on the days my body feels unpredictable. And it’s about showing my girls that even with a chronic illness, you can still grow, create, and help others feel less alone.
I hope that by sharing my experience, someone else out there feels understood — especially those who haven’t seen their own story reflected back at them before.
