Andrea Flenley

"I am still me."

Andrea is a mother, wife, worker and friend who was diagnosed with the most common chronic neurological condition of the 20-50 age group who is fiercely adamant along with the diagnosis "but I am still me".

Following participating in the MS Readathon in primary school and learning about neurological conditions while training to be a registered nurse little light shone on the real impact of this disease until it presented as an uninvited stranger in this educated woman's life.

Vague symptoms of foot and facial numbness appeared as quickly as it disappeared, therefore preliminary testing indicated no abnormality detected, so this efficient woman headed for England on a working holiday and landed the role of a live in nurse for a lady who was severely effected by multiple sclerosis!

Andrea describes her time with her patient as a privilege and she learnt a lot about living with dignity and strength and the importance of accepting help and how it does not make you weaker, but gives you choices.

Later back in Australia, life provided marriage and motherhood and an exciting career as Unit Manager in an Aged Care facility. Numbness again plagued Andrea along with other symptoms and with a three month old baby in tow was given a definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

MS Australia - ACT/NSW/VIC highly recommends MS Ambassador Andrea Flenley as a dedicated ambassador who in spite of the detour life has taken, this engaging woman has a few more extra complications but as she says "I am still me".