Multiple Sclerosis ‘The invisible Enemy’.
Me surfing at the passage aged 19 -photo supplied by Mark Peterson. - Back at the passage, this time with Multiple Sclerosis and less hair, aged 56. - Photo by Harry Dalton.
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My 92 page book called ‘Time and Place’ makes mention of my Multiple Sclerosis and MS in general for four pages. The book though mainly features my photographs and stories from my travels and adventures that I’m very grateful to have had before I was inflicted with ‘The Invisible Enemy’.
A few paragraphs taken from ‘Time and Place’
“As I see it, everybody has their own story to tell in life. This is mine. In 2004, my life got turned on its head when Multiple Sclerosis, the invisible enemy, came to visit me uninvited, unannounced and unwelcome. It never left!
The episode where I first realised for sure that something was wrong with me happened like this. I was driving back to Port Fairy in South West Victoria from Naracoorte in South Australia with my young son and a good friend in the car. I started getting double vision, instead of seeing one line in the centre of the highway, there were now two. I didn't trust what I was seeing as it was difficult to determine which line was the real one. I didn't feel safe driving anymore and thankfully my friend took over the driving.
It made me think back to a day a few weeks before. I was out surfing in Port Fairy with a good mate and the horizon started doubling up. There were now two of them! It was impossible to balance on my surfboard. When I tried to ride a wave, I spent most of the time falling off. I wasn't enjoying this at all, so I waved to my friend and went in. He would have just thought: "Strange, but Oh well more waves for me! It was very difficult walking on the rocks back to my car and I spent most of the time on my hands and knees.”
MS is a very difficult disease and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone not even my worse enemy even though I haven’t got one but you know what I mean! I often think about how my son has to be confronted with his father having MS at an early age and it always brings a tear to my eye. People sometimes say to me that they don't think they could take life on as I do if they were in my shoe's. I beg to differ as I think people can surprise themselves when they are tested and find strength and be far more resilient and courageous than they ever thought that they could be! It would be great though if someone could have it for half a day. Only for half a day! Then they would know what ‘the Invisible enemy’ is capable of and what people with MS and other neurological diseases have to endure on a daily basis.
Thanking you.
Please click below to see Emily Bissland from the ABC Regional in Warrnambool great shori film about me and my Multiple Sclerosis.