A brave Ayrshire woman with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) has spoken of her determination to live life to the full.
Laura Ingram insists she cannot afford to have any lazy days – in case her condition worsens.
She has spoken out after new research uncovered more people living with the condition admitting they are ‘scared’ over what will happen to them in the years to come.
Laura, 36, from Ayr, is one of thousands of people living with relapsing MS.
She married sweetheart Colin in 2015, now works as a senior cyber security consultant – and volunteers as MS Society Scotland’s council chair.
She was diagnosed with relapsing MS in 2014 and has lived with epilepsy since she was 17.
Laura lives with a range of symptoms, including the uncertainty of how and when her MS may develop in the future.
Any MS symptom can be associated with a relapse.
The most common ones include issues with fatigue, dizziness, balance, coordination, body pain and impaired memory and mobility.
She said: “I worry that my relapsing MS will evolve into secondary progressive MS and I will regret the ‘pyjama day’ or day I did nothing...uncertainty is an extra pressure, and I don’t want to waste one minute of the life I have now.
“I think it is my nature and the uncertainty of MS progression that drives me."
In a recent MS Society survey of 1,200 people with MS, half (51 per cent) felt isolated, and over three-quarters (76 per cent) said the unpredictability of MS was one of the biggest challenges they face.
Laura said: “Uncertainty is the foundation of this disease and why the work the MS Society are doing to fund research is so critical.
“I volunteer with MS Society Scotland to help give a voice to those of us living in Scotland with MS.
“In 10, 15 years or maybe just six months’ time should my MS progress, I would like to think that I didn’t waste a moment, that I have tried everything I can to do, whatever I can, to fight this disease.”
Morna Simpkins, director at MS Society Scotland, said: “More than 15,000 people live with MS in Scotland, one of the highest rates of the condition in the world, and we’re here for everyone affected by the condition.
"Our free MS helpline, online forum and local groups can be an invaluable lifeline if you need support dealing with uncertainty.”
For MS Awareness Week (April 25 to May 1) the MS Society has been sharing stories on how people manage the uncertainty of MS.
For more information, visit www.mssociety.org.uk/msweek
Find out more about MS Society Scotland’s wellbeing hub at https://www.mssociety.org.uk/care-and-support/local-support/wellbeing-hub
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