Mum stays positive after pins and needles revealed to be MS

Brave Kathleen Wilson, known as Kathy, feels like she has competed in "ten rounds of boxing" as soon as she wakes up everyday while battling multiple sclerosis.

The 60-year-old was diagnosed after experiencing pins and needles, loss of vision in her eye, and was struggling to move her foot.

A decade later the former nurse is now in a wheelchair and fights extreme fatigue everyday - but has since regained her vision.

It comes as the condition affects the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with eyes, limb movement, and sensation or balance.

Kathy’s MS is unfortunately progressive, meaning it will only get worse with time.

She has now opened up to the Glasgow Times to raise awareness of the cruel illness and how she refuses to let it keep her down.

Kathy and husband Stevie try to stay positive

Kathy, who lives in Kilsyth, said: “Living with MS is hell on earth really, it is a struggle.

“I got diagnosed ten years ago and it has had a big impact on my life, but I try to stay positive.

“For me the fatigue is the worst part, I feel like I have done ten rounds of boxing as soon as I wake up.

“I can’t walk and am in a wheelchair now, although I try to just get on with it and cope.

“It started with bad pins and needles in my legs but that didn’t ring any alarm bells at first.

“It was when I started to have problems with my right eye I knew something was wrong.

“You have to help yourself and get motivated because no one else can do it for you.

“A lot of it is self encouragement because unfortunately there isn't a lot of support out there.

“I do miss my summer holidays going abroad, but we have a caravan up in Dundee now that I visit instead which we really enjoy.”

MS is an autoimmune condition, meaning Kathy’s system mistakenly attacks a healthy part of her body – in this case, the brain or spinal cord of the nervous system.

This damages and scars the layer that surrounds and protects the nerves, called the myelin sheath, meaning that messages traveling along the nerves become slowed or disrupted.

Exactly what causes the immune system to act in this way is unclear, but most experts think a combination of genetic and environmental factors are involved, according to the NHS.

It's most commonly diagnosed in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s although it can develop at any age. It is also about two to three times more common in women than men.

Kathy’s husband Steven Wilson, 60, known as Stevie, has been her rock throughout her MS journey.

The talented author has now written his third children’s book, A Dug Called Shug, with money from sales going towards Revive MS Support in Glasgow.

The charity offers people like Kathy a sense of community and independence, but is the only one of its kind in Scotland.

Stevie wrote the book, which is available on eBay, to help the charity after being inspired by his wife's positive attitude.

Stevie has wrote a book with money going towards Revive MS Scotland

Stevie said: “People can just give up or say ‘I can't win here’ but not Kathy, she has a great mentality.

“If I was sitting in the wheelchair I don’t know if I could handle it, so I really take my hat off to her.

“We are in it together and the support of our family and the Revive centre helps get us through it.

“I wrote a book about three dogs from Maryhill called A Dug Called Shug, it is £6.99 and a third of sales go towards the centre.

“I do it for the love of it, but I really like to do my bit to help the charity.

“They do a great thing and I want to give back as much as I can.

“My wife could have got MS in her 20s and missed out on doing things with her children.

“Kathy got it at 50. It is a terrible thing but at least our two kids are grown up now.

“She hasn’t majorly missed out on life, and she has a lovely grandkid that keeps her going.”

Kathy and Stevie are raising awareness for MS

Revive is a charity that provides hands-on therapies, advice and support to those living with multiple sclerosis in Scotland.

It offers a variety of services including counselling, specialised nurses, physiotherapy, oxygen therapy and welfare advice.

Kathy explained how Revive has been a “lifeline” as it gives gives her something to “look forward to”.

She said: “It really means so much to me. If it wasn’t around I would struggle big time so we like to fundraise for them.

“It gives me something to look forward to as I can’t go out much due to my disability.

“I go to the cafe every week. It supports me with different things like physio and counseling.

“It has really been a lifeline for me. Apart from Revive there isn’t a lot else.

“It lets me have a bit of independence because I can go to the cafe and use the treatment. There's also other people in similar situations to me.

“I am really proud of Stevie for all the fundraising he does for the centre, his books are brilliant.

“I’m supportive of him and he has been great with me and my MS.

“My family helps me a lot. I feel so awful for people who are on their own and don’t have that support network.”

You can find out more about Revive MS Support here.