Courtnay Terry
At the age of 35 with 3 young children I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I was diagnosed in December last year, after quite a 2 week ordeal of tests and experiencing some scary symptoms.
I was in complete disbelief - I don’t have any history of MS in my family but also this is an old person’s disease. WRONG. After researching the disease and understanding what it can cause to
your body over time I learnt that the largest percentage of people diagnosed with MS are WOMEN between the ages of 20-40 (In the prime of our lives). 330,000 people in Australia and just over 2.8million people worldwide are diagnosed with MS. So many more that are likely unaware they have it. It also isn’t a hereditary disease.
After feeling off in 2020 following a vertigo attack 3 months after the birth of my 2nd child iwhich affected my vision that didn’t go away, then again in early 2024 another big vertigo attack that caused more damage to my eyesight that never improved, I was told that my brain MRI was clear and the attacks were likely migraines due to hormones/lifestyle and would get better as kids got older.
By late 2024 I was so exhausted all the time to the point I just wanted to drop to the floor not long after I woke up but had to push through for my kids. Then one day I experienced numbness across my torso (front and back) from my chest to my hip bone. It kept getting stronger and then my hands were numb and tingly.
After many tests - blood tests for anything and everything, MRI of brain and SPINE this time, and a lumbar puncture it was confirmed I had MS. A lesion was found in my central nervous system in my spinal cord causing all of my symptoms.
Optic Neuritis (the loss of, distorted, foggy, double vision, pain or pressure behind the eye and mostly in one eye only) is one of the first signs of MS as well as numbness/tingling in any part of the body. Had I of known more about MS, early signs to look out for and how young it can actually be diagnosed, particularly in women, I would have dug deeper earlier and demanded more testing.
I was lucky to be supported very early in my diagnosis from friends, friends of friends or family who had MS and guided me on where to turn to for more information, support, Specialists to see and treatments available and what I could do lifestyle wise as well as medically to help slow the progression.
It was a very scary, if not the scariest time in my life when receiving the diagnosis. The fear of the unknown as the disease is different for everyone but also because I have 3 young children and I still have a huge part of my life to live yet and memories to create with them.
I am hoping that through this MS event, my story will help educate anyone with similar symptoms to explore things further or demand further tests in case they also have this disabling disease so that they can treat it as early as possible. Studies have proven that early treatment dramatically slows the disease progression and medicine has advanced so much.
Our Achievements
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
$165
Anonymous
$106
John Carty
$106
Dmitry Kay
Good luck mate!
$165
Mccabe Forde
$55
Bronwyn Reece
Well done Arlo
$53
Ilanda Forde
$42
Felicity Harris
$55
~ak
$106
Rickie-lee Kean
Love you always Fams xo
$82
Adam Blogg
$106
Natasha Papathanasiou
$106
Naomi Burgess
$1.02k
Stubbs Family
Thank you
$54
Sarah Haynes
$169
Kriston Forbes
$57
Danny Forde
$57
Tracey Forde
$55
Dim Dobro
$84
Ben Miller
$106
Matthew Campbell
$82
Janne Hurst
$53
Steve Harris
$82
Claire Delprado
gooooo Stubbsy!
$53
Graeme And Janice Stanbury
Thinking of you all and sending love ❤️ Graeme and Janice Stanbury xo
$52
Sarah Bombaci
Best Wishes Courtnay! 😀
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Julz Tello
🏃🏻♂️💨
$165
Caron Sprowles
Walk on by. Walk the line . Walk the walk
$165
Ben Bennetts
$215
David And Pam Cunneen
$106
Drew Azzopardi
$169
Pepe The Frog
$317
Joseph Mcelroy
$74
Bronwyn Aitchison
$116
Thomas Minter
$106
Michelle Mendes
All the best for the walk😊Xx
$106
Sarah Rados
Wishing you all the best Courtnay - those 3 little ones will be so proud of the mum you are!!
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Cassie Dowe
Best wishes Courtnay x
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Mark Rushton
Great work Courtnay. Sounds a terrifying sequence of experiences for you and your family. Finally receiving a diagnosis of MS in a strange way must have been a step in the right direction as the correct treatment modalities could be accessed. My thoughts are with you
$211
Brock Mcdermott
A great cause-well done mate. Sending lots of love to Courtney and the family.
$58
Janelle Hauiti
$106
Jamie Bampton
Good work old cock
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Natalie Goodrick
$55
Sista Pips/brutha Keith
Sending aroha and blessings to you all brutha ❤️
$106
Tim Partridge
$158
Christina Papa
Sending you all so much love!!!
$100
Kim Pike
Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. Well done for doing the event!
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Uncle Marty & Aunty Rose Smith
Kia Ora darling, all the best with fundraising.much love to you and yours!
$52
Moana & Whanau
Sending much aroha Court. Love the Stanbury's x
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Chey Daniels
Mean my cuz See you all at the finish line
$55
Dan Galapon
$106
Bp
Good luck!
$55
Whitey
$106
J C
Good luck Matt!
$53
Alex Gilmour
$168
Christopher Hughes
$55
R R
$211
Jl
Good luck with the 10km Stubs!
$190
Jacob Gibsob
$165
Joseph Capurso
The MS society is a great cause to support. Good on you Stubbsy.
$106
David Parmentier
$101
Rita Elkazzi
Good luck Matt
$78
Caitlin S
$82
Anuschka Shaheen
$501
Anonymous
$200
Robert Paynter
$53
Justin Ridgway-cross
Amazing cause mate
$100
Daniel Reid
Go team courts ❤️
$81
David Thorn
Good on you Matt. Such a worthwhile cause.
$55
Edward Van Der Schans
$168
Michael Doherty
Good luck mate , all the best 💪
$520
Paul Wyper
$55
Giulia Specchia
Go Stubbsy!!
$26
Anonymous
$208
Sean Brennan
Great effort mate
$54
Aria Aio Kruger
Leshgggoooo Court Com
$1.02k
Dave Ferguson
$165
Niall Wallace
$53
Kris Lawson
$211
Aidan Mcateer
$53
Brett Howard
Good luck on the run mate and all the best to Courtney.
$54
Stuart Cullen
$106
Census Toni
$55
Chris O Donoghue
$106
Franco
$82
Campbell Smith
$208
Matthew Stubbs
$101
Amanda & Matthew Bringolf
Go Team 👏 💖 All our love, Amanda, Matt and Mia x
$106
Harry And Laura Gillam
Love and support from the entire Gillam household
$55
Christiana Georgiadis
$1k
Fb
$165
Tim Swan
$106
Commercial Air Mechanical Services
Go team Stubbs. All the best from Stephen and Kendell xx
$55
Amy Wark
$106
Patrick Hart
$100
Bradley Healy
$106
Georgia Cosatto
$50
Danica Fitzgerald
Keep Fighting Courts! Danica and Ethan xx
$82
Anonymous
Sending Courtney a big hug. How brave to share her story. Lots of love to you Amanda xxx
$106
Melissa & John Shields
Go Team Courtnay!! Sending much love to all ❤️😘
$55
Henry Erratt
$55
Anonymous
$32
Anonymous
$106
Luke Brown
$82
Steve Pohl
Run run run, good on you, great charity.
$82
Dailey King
$106
Cliffy
$106
Jj
$55
Anonymous
Fucken Chur uncle
$211
Josh Caistor
$165
Les Wark
Enjoy the experience
$201
Lizzie Windsor
Go team Stubbs!!!
$165
Tracey
Go Team Courtnay ❤️
$27
Craig Stubbs
$200
Lisselle
Sending all my love to Courtnay and her amazing support crew! xx
$106
Hana Lewis
All my love to you Courtnay ❤️
$165
Regis Silva
$55
Jess Kellaway
All my love to you Courts ❤️
$106
Phil Shandley
Nice work bro.
$106
Leanne Barbagallo
Go team Courtnay love you all xxx❤️
$55
Odyssie Christou
$211
Kate Hunter
Big love to you and the fam. Always here for you all xx
$264
Matt Gunton
$211
Amanda Stubbs
I am walking to support my daughter as we will help in any way we can whilst we understand this illness more and help in any way to make Courtnay’s life better for the future.
$32
