Emily Halliburton

My life with MS

Three years ago when I was 38 and our boys were aged 4 and 6, I was diagnosed with MS. A few months earlier, my lower body had gone completely numb, from feet to stomach, and I had lost all feeling. I now know that this was my first MS attack.

My world completely changed.

I learnt that I had lesions on my brain and spine as a result of my immune system mistakenly attacking itself causing permanent damage to my brain and spinal cord.

This disrupts the flow of messages in the central nervous system, resulting in difficulty walking, sensory changes, balance issues, tripping, cognitive changes and debilitating fatigue.

My body is working a lot harder to try to do all the things it once did.

 I may appear normal and able-bodied but there is a lot going on underneath the surface and I am good at masking things. I have an invisible disability.

 I try to keep up with life as much as possible for myself and my beautiful family. I am a life-lover and there is so much I want to do and achieve. I am also determined and stubborn, I will not let MS knock me down.

But please know, it’s hard and every day I choose to show up positively and keep going.

I am determined and want to do everything possible to slow down this progressive disease and prevent further lesions. I am on disease modifying therapy to help this.

I am fastidious about exercise, diet, sleep, prayer and meditation, positive mindset, reducing stress and mindfully scheduling so I don’t overdo it. I run regular marathons to prove to myself my body is still capable of amazing things.

My purpose is to live a long, able-bodied life for my husband, children and loved ones, who support me every step of the way.

Thanks for reading my story 💪🧘‍♀️

With your support, we can allow people living with multiple sclerosis access to vital support services, like MS Connect, MS Peer Support and MS Employment Support Programs. We’ll also be helping bring new treatments closer to reality, investing in repairing myelin damage to restore function that has been lost for people with progressive forms of the disease.

On behalf of over 37,756 Aussies living with multiple sclerosis – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!