Meet our MSPs... Ms Sita

As part of our new awareness campaign, MSSI is introducing you to the stories of some of our MS patients, who would like to help others understand the effects MS can cause to peoples lives. Multiple Sclerosis affects different people in different ways, and at different times. This can make it hard to diagnose, as it varies from day to day, and from person to person. It also makes it hard to deal with, with the constant worry that new symptoms will emerge, or that it will flair up at the worst possible time. What matters is the support we can provide to MS patients, both medically, and through counseling and help on their terms.

Ms. Sita suffers from an extreme case of MS. Unable to speak, and unable to fully control the muscles in her body, apart from those in her arms, the 28 year old from Chennai is bedridden. Her family and friends have invested heavily in providing her with the best medical treatment and equipment, in an effort to improve her quality of life. She is lucky to have such a strong support structure around her, and would be in a much worse position if it wasn't for their constant care and love. 

Things haven't always been this way. Ms. Sita was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 22 years old. Before the MS, she was an accomplished Bharata Natyam dancer, a dance-form well known for its fluid movements and graceful poses. She had a bright future in front of her, having been awarded a B-Tech from the prestigious BITS-Goa University. Multiple Sclerosis took these dreams away from her. 

There is currently no cure for Multiple Sclerosis. There is medication to help manage it, and slow its progression, and the help of physiotherapy and lifestyle changes can help reduce the diseases impact on your life, but it is always with you. MS is usually diagnosed in young adults, between the ages of 20-40. It is much more likely to affect woman than men, and results in a reduced quality of life for the patient. 

One of the most important things for MS patients is to have a strong support structure around them, available when they want it. The MSSI provides this structure to MS patients, most of whom do not have the care and support that Ms. Sita is fortunate enough to enjoy. We provide medical equipment and medication, physiotherapists, a friendly ear, counseling, and the assurance that there is someone here to care for our MSPs. Keeping a positive attitude leads to better mental health, and a better quality of life. We help our patients when they are feeling down.

Ms. Sita's condition is extremely limiting, but with the support of her amazing family and friends, her physiotherapist, and the MSSI, she is seeing some welcome improvements.

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