Longford woman highlights living with MS and MS Readathon

Shelby Wenman is a woman currently living with Multiple Sclerosis. She was diagnosed at just 21 years of age, this may seem unusual as one of the many misconceptions of MS is that only older people are diagnosed with the disease. But this is not the case, the common age range for diagnosis is the 20 - 40s.

Sitting in a coffee shop on a cold day in Longford, Shelby spoke with us about her experience with MS and life since diagnosis.
“I was only 21 when I was diagnosed and I always thought it was an older person thing because I knew nothing about it, to be honest with you. I thought it was from the age of 40 on.”

Shelby was diagnosed in 2020, she received her diagnosis alone in the hospital as was the protocol during this time owing to Covid.

“They came in and were like “You have MS” and I was sitting there thinking oh my God I can’t have that I’m too young there's no way, It must be something else. Even though I was 21 all I wanted was for my Mam to come and help me.”

Shelby at that time was unable to walk due to the flare-up that had led to her being diagnosed. Before the diagnosis, she had received many different answers as to what may be wrong with her . It wasn't until she received an MRI after temporarily losing the use of her legs at 21 that it was revealed to be Multiple Sclerosis.

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“I think the initial panic was what is my life going to be like” recalls Shelby, “I thought, oh my god I'm never going to be able to walk again because when I was diagnosed I was in a wheelchair at the time.

“I was feeling bits of everything I suppose, anger, I was upset, I had a feeling of loneliness. I don't know if I was angry at the diagnosis or if I was angry that nobody could be there with me.”

Multiple Sclerosis is a difficult case to diagnose, it can only be done via MRI and no one shows the same symptoms.

This is because of the lesions that develop with MS. These lesions can appear anywhere on the brain or the spinal cord and depending on where they are located, produce a new symptom each time.

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“I started showing symptoms at 19,” Shelby explains “I had lost feeling in my feet as far up as my legs and they kept telling me it was diabetes because my grandad is a type one diabetic.”

She lost feeling again after that however was told it was bad circulation but then began walking in what she described as a zigzag. This time she received an MRI.

After receiving her diagnosis Shelby has not let the disease get her down, she has graduated college, has learned to drive and now is a preschool teacher and while she can only work limited hours because of the MS she continues to persevere with positivity.

“ I suppose there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As well I had to attend physio in the DPOL (Disabled People of Longford) in Longford and they’re amazing out there like they’re so good.”

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You can sense this positivity as soon as you meet Shelby, and it’s clear this same energy is present in those around her.

“My family is so supportive as well as my friends and my boyfriend, I am very lucky, if I need a rest they will be like 'go and rest'.

“They know my situation and they’re very good, I don’t think I’d be anything if it weren’t for them,”
One of Shelby’s main struggles right now is her hopes to have a child.

The medication she’s on right now is incredibly effective but unfortunately, you are not allowed to get pregnant on it — Shelby dreams of being a mother.

One of Shelby’s biggest fears after her diagnosis was the possibility of not having a child.

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“That was my main panic straight away.

“Will I be able to have them?”

She recalled, “Because most people that I have been talking to since, that have MS, have already had their kids before their diagnosis.”

Shelby’s medication does not allow the user to get pregnant as it can be damaging to the baby.

“For me to have kids in the future I am going to need to come off my medication which is putting me at risk of having a relapse.”

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A relapse is particularly dangerous because, as she says herself what you lose in a relapse you do not get back.

Shelby is going to be speaking in schools this month as a part of the MS Readathon hosted by MS Ireland. The Readathon is the biggest event of MS Ireland's year and has been running for a whopping 37 years. Originally started by Roald Dahl the Readathon runs from November 1 until December 15.

Shelby is working on the Readathon with the MS ambassador and photographer Shelley Corcoran.

“They responded so well to it, they were really interested in what was going on and I just think sometimes we don't give children credit,” says Shelley.

“We think they live in a little fairy world but we don't give them enough credit for being able to handle and being interested in more serious matters,”

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“When they’re getting sponsored and they’re reading their books, they know why they’re doing it and how they’re helping people I think.”

Ava Battle, the CEO of MS Ireland also had a few words to say about the Readathon and its importance.

“The MS Readathon is our flagship fundraiser in the year. It’s our 37th Readathon which is fantastic.

“The Readathon is really about children, young people, adults, parents, anyone who wants to take part really.

“The funds that we raise through the Readathon help us to continue to provide services to over 10,000 people in Ireland living with MS.”

These services range from stair lifts to physiotherapy.

See more here : www.msreadathon.ie