Every day when I am out and about in Sydney, someone stops me on the streets asking me for money. I’m sure we get it all the time too. People working for this fund or that, kids selling chocolates for a school fundraiser (where you just fork out the full cash price up front, because you know you’re going to eat ALL the Freddo Frogs) or you get telemarketers calling asking you to buy a ticket for x raffle. You might get people hitting you up on the street – asking you to spare some change or you donate regularly to a charity.
There are many out there less fortunate than us, and each of our own situations are varied too as to what values we have and what we wish to do with our money. There is no right or wrong, and as to what and whom you support is your choice.
I’m a firm believer in that when you give you receive 2 fold. That you ought to do so not on the proviso that the universe is watching me with all my good deeds, but it was because of how I was raised and that doing nice things for people less fortunate is a good thing and it makes me feel good. I believe when you do good, good happens. There’s no secret to it and really it’s just about not being a shitty human.
When I was diagnosed with MS my life was a shit fight. I’m coming up to my MS Anniversary and when my whole world was turned on it’s head. Looking back now, I am pleased in a way that happened in that it has taught me some valuable life lessons and urged me to make some pretty drastic changes in my life. My life, relationships, health and stress levels are much better for it, and I’ve met some wonderful people along the way. If I was to continue the way I was going before all of this happened, I’m not quite sure where I’d be or that I’d be fortunate enough to be writing this right now.
Being newly diagnosed with a fucking shitty disease which come out of nowhere is scary. Losing your vision is scary and everyone around me loved and was concerned for me, but just didn’t get what I was going through. Offering up advice, telling me what I should and shouldn’t do and generally giving me all sorts of advice which were a massive conflict when I was going through a huge multitude of emotions and #themfeels .My beautiful bestie told me to get on the phone to the MS Foundation to seek out a pack and some information, as her cousin had MS. So I did that. Talking to these people at the MS Foundation and MS Connect over the past few years for me, has been really my saving grace.
Seeking information on the internet is scary and that alone is confusing. I’m pretty sure I have self diagnosed way too much and watching all of House MD from series one has either made me a better patient or a worse one lol. But having access to people who are trained and there to provide you with niche information, support and also access to services was a huge support for me. I was and am still adamant that I work and support myself fully. I don’t receive any government funding or offsets, rather there are other people I see who need it more than me and I can work, so I do.
The staff there support me with regular phone calls to check in on me (like to see how my symptoms are from the last chat, to see if I am coping with the weather and my vision. They email me information about changes to treatments and also when there will be specific information sessions or webinars with information which might be of interest). When I was still working full time, they sent a support worked to meet with me, to see if there was anything they might be able to help me with and to also provide me with the resources to get assistance.
There have been days where I have been beside myself as new symptoms present and I don’t know who to talk to or what I should do. I call and have a good cry, and they listen and provide a support network that get’s exactly what I am going through. It’s not to say that others don’t or aren’t a help, but this is what they do day in and day out. I can’t express the relief and comfort I’ve found in this and more so knowing if I need to ask a question I can just pick up the phone.
MS affects over 23,000 in Australia and more than two million diagnosed worldwide. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20-40, but it can affect younger and older people too. Roughly three times as many women have MS as men.There is currently no known cure for MS however there are a number of treatment options available to help manage symptoms and slow progression of the disease. No ones symptoms are the same, and just when you think you’ve got it sussed the MonSter rares it’s head again!
A lot of people don’t know much about the disease. There are a few famous folk out there that are ambassadors for the disease like Jack Osbourne, the funny man the late Richard Prior and Amy Schumer is a massive advocate as he Dad suffers MS. It’s all about creating awareness, raising funds for support and research AND giving people like me (or newly diagnosed ) access to those people who know what your going through.
My personal goal is this year to raise $5,000 for the MS Foundation (but I think we can do better than that)! I’d like to do it before World MS Day on Wednesday 27 May. We’ve done the Walk for a Cure in 2014 and everyone was awesome and donated! Last year we donated and we have friends that do too! We’re getting serious this year!
If your interested in making a donation, donating your product, time or services please let me know. If you want to run a bake sale in the office, or simply donate your coffee money for the week every bit helps. Will I hate you if you don’t? Not at all but if what I’ve written does resonate with you give as little or lot as you can afford.
I’ve an official authority to fund-raise, and donations can be made direct to the foundation. The money goes direct to them! I would love to collaborate with any of you out there. Send me a message and let’s discuss. I’ll be damned if I am going to sit around and do nothing, as if this can help other generations not have to go through this shit, well then it will be all worth it !
Thanks
Chrissy