Deanna"I'm grateful for MS Plus support and want to help further their mission. I want to bring hope to others."
When she was just 17, Deanna was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) during her VCE exams. Her first symptom was sudden blindness in her left eye.
"I couldn’t see colour. It was like staring at a black-and-white canvas," Deanna recalls.
An ophthalmologist diagnosed optic neuritis, often associated with early MS. A neurologist later confirmed Deanna had it.
Back then, Deanna knew little about the neurological condition.
“It was 2007. I knew about the MS Readathon for kids, but I didn't receive much support or education," she says.
Deanna went online looking for information. However, she felt overwhelmed by the negative portrayals of people with MS.
“The lack of positive representation left me thinking my life was over before it had begun,” she says.
Friends distanced themselves, mistakenly fearing her condition was contagious. Some people told her to forget about university, travel, or romance.
Despite regaining her eyesight and completing her VCE, Deanna became depressed. For two years, she worked at low-paying jobs. She endured vertigo during MS relapses.
A pivotal moment came during a routine health check. Deanna told her new GP she couldn’t attend uni or travel because of her MS. The elegant-looking doctor told her: "I have MS and a great life. So can you."
Inspired, Deanna pursued higher education. She earned degrees in social sciences, sexual health and social work. She travelled overseas, found love and built a career as a mental health clinician.
Now 34, Deanna is happier. Improved drug treatments, mental health support and a solid social network have helped.
Along her journey, she discovered MS Plus. The staff supported her with assessments and in navigating social services. Today, she serves as one of their ambassadors, advocating for better peer support for younger people with MS.
“It would have helped to connect with people my age facing similar experiences," she reflects.
She also participates in MS Plus fundraising events. In 2022, Deanna raised $8,000 through the MS Walk, Run + Roll and the MS Tuscany Trek, a 100-kilometre journey. She also curated their charity art show, showcasing artists with 'invisible illnesses.’
In her spare time, Deanna creates digital art. With her Circular Blooms project, she turns her MRI scans into colourful works of art (see below).
"I turn anxiety-inducing MRIs into something positive," she explains.
Through her art, she hopes to challenge misconceptions about MS.
Recently, Deanna decided to write her Will, making MS Plus a beneficiary.
"I'm grateful for MS Plus support and want to help further their mission. I want to bring hope to others," she says.
Ideally, she'd like her gift to support the MS Plus Art Show.
"It gave me a creative outlet and helped me process my diagnosis,” she says.
While her journey has been challenging, Deanna remains optimistic.
"Medication, support groups and representation have improved. They’re moving in the right direction."
Like Deanna, you can leave a legacy of hope for people living with MS, through a gift in your Will. Any gift, large or small, even 1-2% of what is left, after gifts for family and friends, can go to research or support services.
Want to know more? Contact Laura, Future Planning Manager, on 1800 443 867. You can also email [email protected] or visit the MS Plus website.
