Beth Wurcker

When Beth woke one morning in 2000 feeling completely numb down one side of her body, she wasn't overly concerned. Her family all enjoyed very good health and her parents, then in their 70's, still worked on the family farm. When several days later the numbness hadn't gone away, she saw a doctor who arranged tests that eventually led to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Beth, then aged 41, had two primary school aged children, worked part-time and was studying at university. All she could think was what would her future be like? Would she still be able to look after her children? Would she be able to drive? How long could she continue to work?

Almost immediately, and with a focus she hadn't previously known she possessed, Beth decided she had to know as much as possible about the condition and what she could do to avoid or delay its effects. She attended an education and information session for those newly diagnosed at Gloria McKerrow House, the MS office in the ACT and this was the beginning of an ongoing relationship with the organisation. Beth now wants to use her role as an MS Ambassador to help educate people about what it's like to live with such an unpredictable and chronic condition.

Beth considers herself a very lucky person and feels living with MS has some positive aspects, such as valuing each day and not taking the future for granted. After her diagnosis, she went on to graduate from university and now works full-time for the Red Cross in a role that enables her to assist people with many varied chronic and long term conditions, including MS. Beth also has a supportive network of family, friends and colleagues and although she continues to experience symptoms they haven't stopped her from living a busy, happy and optimistic life.