Bev was in her 30s when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). She’s now 72 and takes part in many of the activities organised by MS Gisborne East Coast field officer Karen Whitehead.
“I’m fine these days,” said Bev, who attributes her occasional lapses of memory to “grey hair”.
She enjoys coffee mornings, art group and sessions at the pool.
“I was walking a quarter-mile a session in the pool and I lost weight. I stopped for a while and put it back on, so I’m going back to the pool.
“I can’t walk a long way; I have to slow down because my back hurts. I use my walker to visit my daughter; she lives nearby.”
Bev and Reg, her husband of 52 years, were in Queensland, Australia, when MS struck.
In a 2008 interview, Bev recalled that she’d had a massive attack and went to the hospital wondering “what the hell” was going on with her.
“I was very, very ill and the doctor said, ‘You are either putting it on or you have MS’,” she said.
Multiple sclerosis affects people in a variety of ways and progresses at different rates. Diagnostic methods have improved considerably in recent years with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other medical advances, but diagnosis has always included the elimination of other possible causes. Traditionally that meant a diagnosis of MS did not come quickly.
Bev’s symptoms eased with hospital treatment and she was able to go home, but the effects of the condition lingered and some things were now beyond her, so she went to a specialist in Brisbane.
“He was fantastic,” she said.
“I was given regular MRI scans so they could track my MS. Then I was put on a variety of injections . . . I had reactions to some of them. I ended up on weekly injections of Avonex to stop the condition worsening.”
Bev and Reg lived in Redcliffe on the northern outskirts of Brisbane. Reg was a carpenter and Bev worked night duty as a nurse. Both upgraded their qualifications through study. Bev still has the framed 1997 certificate for the International Correspondence Schools Diploma in Psychology.
They had four children but lost one to cot death, and now have a “big brood” of grandchildren.
In 2006, after 30 years in Australia, Bev and Reg returned to their home town.
Bev’s parents had divorced and she was raised by her grandparents, Adelaide and Bert Lewis, in Heta Road. The family knew Esme Tombleson, Gisborne MP from 1960 to 1972 and co-founder of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of New Zealand . . . the house that was her Gisborne base was just around the corner in Harris Street.
Esme Tombleson also founded the Gisborne East Coast MS Society (now MS Gisborne East Coast), in 1988, and it continues to support people with MS and other neurological conditions not served by a local organisation.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system. In MS, the immune system attacks the protective covering (myelin) of nerve fibres. This damage disrupts the normal flow of electrical impulses along the nerves.
Common symptoms of MS include fatigue, muscle weakness, difficulty with coordination and balance, vision problems, numbness or tingling, and problems with thinking or memory. Emotional changes can occur, and may be challenging for loved ones and caregivers.
Field officer Karen Whitehead said the cause of MS, while not fully understood, was thought to be linked to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Where MS was diagnosed, it often became apparent between the ages of 20 and 50, and it was more common in women than in men.
MS was typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical exams and imaging tests such as MRI scans. While treatment did not cure MS, it could help manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. Diet and lifestyle changes could help, and physical therapy was useful in maintaining mobility and strength. With proper treatment, many people with MS could lead fulfilling lives.
“It’s important for people with MS to work closely with healthcare professionals to develop a personalised plan for managing their condition and maintaining their quality of life,” Karen said.
MS Gisborne East Coast provides support and information to people with MS, their whānau, and those with allied neurological conditions not otherwise supported locally.
As field officer, Karen visits people with MS, responds to requests for advice or assistance, and helps facilitate regular activities such as morning teas, evening groups for those who work, a swimming group and art therapy classes.
She can be contacted for further information at msgisborne.ec@gmail.com or on 027 568 9449.
* New Zealand MS Awareness Week runs from September 11 to 17. The Gisborne fundraising event this year is called Muffins for MS. Home-baked muffins, prepared by a team of volunteers, will be available during the week. Pre-orders will be filled from Monday to Wednesday, and on Thursday and Friday muffins will be sold outside The Warehouse from 10am to 2pm.
