STEVEN PALAMARAS

NO ONE SHOULD FACE MS ALONE!

Can you imagine waking up one day unable to do the everyday things you usually take for granted? Like not being able to see properly (or at all), unable to get out of bed, walk to the phone to call someone—anyone—or live a life without pain?

Well, that happened to me.

From the age of six, I have been living with a condition that has affected my mobility, vision, and caused chronic pain. Despite these challenges, I have managed to live a normal life—but one that has not been without its struggles.

Over the past 29 years, I have had to relearn how to talk and walk multiple times. Imagine having to rebuild the very foundation of your independence again and again. It has been a journey filled with frustration, setbacks, and moments where I questioned if I had the strength to keep going. But through it all, I have found ways to rehabilitate myself, drawing strength not only from within but from the support of people around me.

It’s this support—whether from loved ones, medical professionals, or even understanding strangers—that has made all the difference. I have learned that resilience is not just about pushing through the pain, but also about allowing yourself to lean on others when you need to.

Life with this condition has been challenging, but it has also given me a perspective that many don’t have. I have come to appreciate the simple things—walking, speaking, seeing—even more because I know what it’s like to lose them. And every time I’ve had to start over, I’ve done so with determination, proving to myself that no matter how many times I fall, I can always rise again.

To anyone facing their own struggles, know this: you are stronger than you think, and with the right support, you can overcome more than you ever imagined.

On behalf of over 33,300 Aussies living with multiple sclerosis – THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!