A 7News report has detailed the experiences of jewellery designer Meg Maskell, owner of Meg Maskell Fine Jewellery in Hornsby, with multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes the immune system to attack the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, leading to inflammation, scar tissue, and lesions. It is the most common acquired chronic neurological disease affecting young adults, and it affects three times more women than men.
Maskell, 36, told the media that issues with eyesight were the first alarm bell.
“At first, I thought it was just the bushfire smoke. But even after a few weeks back at work, my eyesight was still hazy,” Maskell said.
“They told me it was either caused by a brain tumour, motor neurone disease or MS. It was a big punch in the face.”
Maskell said she has learned to manage symptoms with medication and adapt her daily routine to avoid the impact on her jewellery business.
“It is a disease that attacks the coding of your nerves. So you can have a presentation like numbness in your fingertip. It could be a weakness on your left side, a problem with your left leg, or, in my case, it was my eyes,” Maskell explained.
“I get tired very quickly, way more than I used to before. But I’ve learnt to just maximise the mornings. I’ve also moved to using magnification glasses at work, so my eyes don’t get tired.”
She added, “When people hear MS, they think wheelchair. They think you can’t work. They think it’s a death sentence. But that’s not everyone’s story. It doesn’t define who you are.”
Maskell has joined a broader national campaign, supported by MS Australia, that highlights how modern treatments and support enable people with the disease to live active lives.
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