MS & Me

The Unthinkable Happened 

Never have I ever broken a bone, until last week. I went to the freezer to fetch some frozen chips, tripped on a step because I didn’t lift my bad leg high enough, and landed on my good leg. Since I was carrying a pre-prepared ice pack, I didn’t put my hands out to break the fall. I tried doing some yoga moves to get up off the kitchen tiles. Table position usually works, but not this time. Both my legs were too sore. Eventually, with my family’s help, I somehow got off the ground. I’m so glad it wasn’t captured on video! 

Hi, I am Orla Marron, the MS Readathon ambassador. I am excited to share that I will be reading and fundraising from the 1st of November to the 15th of December. I will be doing this alongside my children, Kyle and Katie, and their classmates at St. Michael’s National School in Donaghmoyne, Co Monaghan.

By picking up a book, you will not only enjoy a great story, but you will also be helping to raise funds to support the 10,000+ people living with Multiple Sclerosis in Ireland. There is still plenty of time to join us and make a difference—register here: MS Readathon

You can read my story below or watch a short video here where I discuss my MS journey and the importance of the 2024 MS Readathon.

Ever since I can remember, I have always dreamed of living by the sea. As a child, I loved visiting Howth, Bray, and Dun Laoghaire with my parents. I have so many fond memories of roller blading on Howth Pier and climbing Bray Head on rare sunny days. I remember eating 99s when they actually cost 99p and bringing home a bucket full of interesting shells and pebbles.

MS is about three times more common in women than in men and recent studies suggest that this gender ratio has been increasing over time. As a young woman who has been living with MS since a teenager, this is just a short story about how MS impacts my life as a female. Now we all know that no two people living with MS are the same or share the same journey, so this is just my story of how MS impacts me as a woman.

As we live with many of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, it can feel like we’re aging in fast forward. What happens when our actual age begins to catch up to how old we feel?

September marks another year since my Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis, a date that always prompts reflection on how far I've come, the challenges I've faced, and the strength I've discovered within myself. While some refer to this as their "MS-iversary" and choose to celebrate it, I personally don't view it as an occasion for celebration. However, I respect and support those who find meaning in marking this day.

Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) brings a unique set of challenges, both physical and emotional. One of the most challenging emotions is guilt. Whether it's feeling like a burden or guilt over not being able to work or engage in activities as before, or simply needing extra care, these feelings can be overwhelming.

Many years ago, I remember trying to articulate how an MS diagnosis affects your relationships. I told my Mam that it’s like being at the epicentre of an earthquake. The diagnosis just keeps rippling out until it touches every aspect of your life and every person with whom you have any semblance of a relationship. The earthquake creates a canyon too wide for some friendships to continue any further. This natural disaster somehow pushes you closer to people who might surprise you. Rescue can come from new sources and people that you never even thought you’d encounter on this journey called life.

One thing we can all agree on is the cost of living with an incurable illness like multiple sclerosis. It slices and dices through your physical life at will, no matter how you think your life is. It equally has little regard for your mental and emotional life. 

This blog title gives me anxiety. What does a “better me” mean? Should I be writing an article like the many I’ve seen where people tell stories about how better their life is since MS diagnosis and how much they have achieved? People climbing mountains or running marathons? I have read a lot where people seem grateful for MS. I’m happy for them but let's get one thing straight from the start - I am not grateful for my diagnosis. MS has in no way improved my life. It sucks and any of the positive things that have come from it, like my learning mindfulness and becoming a calmer person, I like to think I would have discovered in time anyway.