You go through the darkest lows and you push onward

At 19, Alice from Scotland received her diagnosis of MS, after a sudden loss of vision eventually led to an MRI, which revealed lesions on her brain and spine.  

Over the years, she’s faced the emotional and physical challenges of MS. Yet, Alice remains resilient, embracing life’s ups and downs. Read her story and Alice’s powerful advice to her younger self: 

‘My name is Alice. I am 26 years old from Edinburgh, Scotland. 

I woke up shortly after my 19th birthday in 2016 unable to see out of my left eye. This prompted emergency optician and eye hospital appointments, which found I had Optic Neuritis and that was the end of the matter, as I would get my vision back in 4 weeks.  

Unfortunately, my eyesight did not return in this period and my parents took me to the GP who referred me for an MRI.  

I sauntered into the neurology department thinking the MRI would be clear and I would go on my way. However, three weeks before I turned 20 my world flipped upside down as my neurologist showed me my brain and spine, and all the lesions that were lit up like a Christmas tree. 

I was too young for this in my mind. I nodded along to starting treatment and pushed MS and everything along with it to the back of my mind. Unfortunately, my mental health suffered. I developed depression and anxiety as I struggled to come to terms with my new life with such an unpredictable illness. 

I had a few stable years, until I developed new symptoms and changed to a new treatment. Currently, nearly 7 years later I live with bad spasms in both my legs that are a constant reminder of how this illness can grip you.  

If I could give past me one piece of advice it would be this; life is going to suck for a while, and you’ll go through the darkest lows. However, you will also still laugh until your stomach hurts, have fun, go places and push onward. You were young, which is unfair. However, you have become more resilient than ever. It’s okay to cry and feel the feelings, this doesn’t have to stop you from aiming as high as you can.’ 

Our thanks to Alice for sharing her MS diagnosis story on the World MS Day map. If you have an MS diagnosis story to share you can add your experience to the World MS Day map.