NO ONE SHOULD FACE MS ALONE!
Hey guys, can you imagine waking up one day with blurred vision in one eye, the sepia filter cranked to the max and then sudden blackness? Well, that is what happened to me, shortly after I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Don’t worry the vision in my eye came back (mostly) you can only sneak attack from the left.
Suddenly, my world changed drastically. Being diagnosed with a chronic, incurable lifelong illness was a bitter pill to swallow for a 17-year-old!
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and often debilitating disease which attacks the central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord (myelin), and optic nerves). It is the most common neurological disease in young adults. Three out of four people living with MS are women.
While feats of endurance are definitely not my forte, I've signed up to the 10KM walk this May to raise awareness and funds to support those living with MS! MS is a hard journey to walk alone so my friends and family will be there to support me every step of the way.
Come join the walk, run or roll & donate to to the MS-Y (messy) situation MS is, let’s smash this goal and raise those schmeckles for a good cause. 💪
With your support, people living with multiple sclerosis can access vital support services, like MS Connect, MS Peer Support and MS Employment Support Programs. Your help also brings new treatments closer to reality.
Follow my MS-Y situation on Instagram @my_messy_situation
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT and REMEMBER KEEP S’MYELIN 😊
My Updates
GOAL SMASHED!!
Wednesday 6th Apr
A little more information about my special “friends" that have hitched a ride in my immune system.
Sunday 6th Mar Share
THANK YOU!!
Wednesday 2nd Mar
GOAL INCREASE
Wednesday 2nd Mar
Thank you for all your help and support
Share
My Messy Situation
Monday 28th Feb
When I was 17 years old Multiple Sclerosis crashed into my life. I woke up with colour loss and extreme blurred vision in one eye, within a month I received an official diagnosis of MS.
Initially, it felt like I had been handed a life sentence. There are so many negative stereotypes and attitudes around MS. No one could tell me what my future would look like. I was offered very little support at this time and scared of what my future would look like.
I was advised to defer my final year of high school, but I was very stubborn and wanted to graduate with my classmates. Despite having more days of absence than in attendance, I graduated at the end of 2007. I had always been a high achieving student and was horrified I did not achieve the exam results I required to enter The University of Melbourne and the course of my choosing.
I was devastated, looking back I am ashamed that I spent the next two years throwing myself a pity-party, while learning to manage my MS symptoms which included fatigue, pain, balance and visual issues, anxiety, and depression. I also had to learn how to pace myself and reserve my energy which is a hard task for a 20-year-old.
In 2010, I was sick of feeling sorry for myself, I applied to Monash University and in 2013 completed a Bachelor of Social Sciences. To celebrate this achievement, against the advice of those around me, I took a month-long backpacking trip through Southeast Asia. During this trip I felt an amazing sense of personal achievement and soon had the epiphany my MS cannot stop me from achieving my goals. In 2015, I commenced a yearlong Master of Science in Medicine and graduated in the top percentile of my class. I then went on to backpack around India for six weeks.
Today, I am studying a Master of Social Work at the University of Melbourne, while the pathway was not what I expected, I got there in the end. I continue to improve my wellbeing through exercise, mental health maintenance and a strong support network of family, friends, MS+ support services, and other social networks. I am currently a MS Ambassador sharing my journey with those that would like to learn more about MS.
Let's smash this goal and raise those schmeckles. 💪
A BIG THANK YOU TO MY SUPPORTERS
$73.50
Gordon Ratcliff
$105
Andrea A
Enjoy your walk, and well done with everything you have accomplished in your life - inspirational :)
$31
Anonymous
$21
Tom
Punch it in the dick hole
$73.50
Parv Sagar
$73.50
Paul De Rooy
You are amaze :)
$6.30
Anonymous
Hit that goal!
$20
Hilary Caldwell
$50
Malcolm Boag
$52.50
Ralph Hampson
Great work Deanna
$50
Verity
$200
Emma Browne
Good luck for the walk! Lots of love xx
$50
Anonymous
$100
Guy De Rycke
$20
Facebook Donation
$30
Facebook Donation
$22
Anonymous
$52.50
Kaden Holt
$10.50
Emily Stuettgen
$10.50
Juan
La vas a romper CTM💪🏻💪🏻 Go DD!
$21
Dnis
Siempre contigo mi DD luchadora!! 💪🏻
$20
Facebook Donation
$10
Facebook Donation
$50
Facebook Donation
$73.50
David Curtis
Best wishes Deanna
$500
Clayton Tebb
Walk Hard :)
$52.50
Michael Garlick
Go Deeeee! .
$52.50
Kym Robinson
So proud of you, babe!! Behind you 100%
$52.50
Joseph Briglia
Well done DD
$21
Anonymous
$21
Findlay Dehring
Hey dude. Wish I could donate more! What you're doing is a great thing and you should be proud!
$78.75
Nivals Family
$20
Facebook Donation
$100
La Onda Latin Mex
Thumbs up D you go chica, we’re right behind you!
$100
Facebook Donation
$50
Facebook Donation
$200
Facebook Donation
$10
Facebook Donation
$50
Terri-lee Ashcroft
Good luck Deanna, you are an exceptional young woman XXoo 😘
$50
Facebook Donation
$21
Emily Smith
kia kaha, mana wahine toa!
$50
Mac
$30
Facebook Donation
$10
Facebook Donation
$20
Facebook Donation
$50
Facebook Donation
$210
Anonymous
$25
Facebook Donation
$52.50
Naume
$25
Facebook Donation
$50
Facebook Donation
$50
Deanna Renee
Kicking this off!
Go date night!!!