A legacy of strength, not silence

I remember thinking, “How do I live with this now?” There’s the visible stuff, of course. But then there’s how MS touches every part of my life - my work, my parenting, my relationships, even the way I rest.

But strangely, it also made me pause. It taught me to listen to myself in a way I never had before. I started celebrating the small wins. I learned to protect my energy. 

MS has changed me - but it hasn’t broken me. If anything, it’s uncovered a strength I didn’t know I had.

In those early, uncertain days, the MS Society was one of the first places I turned to. I found their resources online and suddenly I didn’t feel quite so alone. There was real information, real people, and a sense that someone out there understood what I was going through. That connection was a lifeline.

Turning MS into a mission

As I began to heal and find my footing again, I wanted to give something back. I started volunteering and eventually joined the coordinating team for the Asian MS support group. It gave me a way to support others who might also be navigating cultural or community barriers around chronic illness.

That same need to connect and make sense of the chaos led me to write "The Ultimate Adventure in Forgetfulness and Fatigue: 101 Ways to Tackle MS Like a Pro". I couldn’t find the kind of book I needed when I was first diagnosed—so I wrote it myself. It’s a mix of practical advice, lived experience, and humour, because sometimes laughter is the only thing that helps.

The response from the MS community has been deeply moving. People have said the book helped them feel seen. Or made it easier to explain MS to their loved ones. Others said it gave them permission to rest and to be kind to themselves. That’s all I ever hoped—to reassure someone else that they’re not alone in this.

I also created an Instagram page called Invisible Load of Life, and from that, Real Voices of MS was born—a space to share the unfiltered stories of people living with MS. Because I believe awareness grows when we tell the truth, even when it’s messy.

A moment that will always stay with me is being recognised as a History Maker by the MS Society. It was the first time I truly felt like my voice mattered. If even one person saw my story and felt understood, then that was enough.

Leaving a legacy that matters

That’s why I decided to leave a gift to the MS Society in my will. It wasn’t a grand gesture—it was a quiet, meaningful choice. It’s my way of making sure the support that helped me will still be there for someone else in the future. I want to help fund research, improve care, and keep building that sense of community that makes this journey a little less isolating.

I never imagined I’d be in this place when I was first diagnosed. Back then, I was just trying to survive. But over time, through connection, community and a lot of healing, I found a sense of purpose. And I realised that giving back gave me something too—it gave me power.

If you’re thinking about leaving a gift to the MS Society, I’d simply say this: your legacy doesn’t have to be loud to be lasting. Even a small gift can help someone feel seen, supported, and a little less alone. And that, I think, is a powerful thing to leave behind.