Dayna Giannopoulos

Life changes very quickly

Your legs, your arms—completely numb. Panic sets in as you try to move, but your body doesn’t respond the way it should. You have no idea what’s happening. One moment, you were living your life as usual, and the next, everything has changed.

That’s what happened to me.

In August 2023, at just 25 years old, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I was finishing my university degree, making plans, dreaming big—until suddenly, my body had other ideas. MS is a cruel and unpredictable disease that attacks the central nervous system—the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It’s the most common neurological disease in young adults, and three out of four people diagnosed are women.

Since my diagnosis, I’ve had to learn a whole new way of living. Some days, I feel strong; other days, even the simplest tasks are a struggle. The uncertainty is the hardest part—never knowing what symptoms will show up or how long they’ll last. But one thing I do know: MS will not define me. I still have dreams to chase, a future to build, and a life to live. This disease may be a part of my story, but it will never be the whole story.

But no one with MS can do this alone.

With your support, people like me can access life-changing services—MS Connect, MS Peer Support, and MS Employment Support Programs. Your generosity helps fund groundbreaking research, bringing new treatments closer to reality and working toward repairing the damage MS has already done.

There are over 33,300 Australians living with multiple sclerosis, each fighting their own battle. On behalf of every single one of us—THANK YOU for standing with us. Your support means more than words can say.