"I just don't know what I would've done without them," Julie says.
The adviser booked a needs assessment with an occupational therapist who visited Julie's home to assess what help was needed.
"I thought I needed a handrail so I could get on the toilet safely, but they got me a frame that goes over the toilet with a higher seat which is much better. I struggled to stand to do my dishes, so they got me a high chair to sit up at the sink. They also gave me a walker – without that I wouldn't be able to go shopping because standing in a queue is so painful. The day all this stuff arrived was like Christmas!" she says.
The autoimmune disease of the central nervous system affects each person differently and is unpredictable in its course. People can lose vision or mobility and then regain it as their immune system rebuilds. A hydrotherapy group helps those getting over a relapse to get out of their wheelchair and into the pool. MS Auckland also offers workshops on topics like exercise to help strength, balance and co-ordination.
Julie says many people with MS live alone. Some friends lost their marriages and children after being diagnosed.
"I've come to terms with the fact I'll live my life alone. My goal is to stay independent for as long as I can, knowing that I can call my community advisor Lesley if I get stuck. I haven't had to so far but knowing she would come means a lot when you're on your own."
She loves the MS Auckland monthly group meetings.
"They're great for swapping tips with people who live with it. We talk about what medication we've tried because different drugs can affect people differently."
A workshop on medical cannabis attracted record attendance but not many people were able to afford it or find a doctor to prescribe it, despite it being a recognised treatment for MS in other countries, she says.
Julie says medical cannabis has made an "amazing difference" to her MS, reducing spasticity and improving appetite.
"A lot of people with MS can't be bothered eating because of a loss of their sense of taste, fatigue, painful stomach tremors and bowel problems. I can lose 5kg in a couple of days and it takes months to put it back on. I look at food now as fuel," she says.
• To donate to MS Auckland, visit https://www.msakl.org.nz/
