Nekita Camilleri

"Dealing with the cards I am dealt"

How is it best to deal with the "You-shouldn't-have-said-that-she-has-MS" moments? You throw a "MS Diagnosis Party". That's what this ingenious, lateral thinking young woman did, at the tender age of nineteen years old.

For Nekita, it all started with red killer heels, newly purchased on a holiday break from university, in hot and humid Florida, USA. Nekita began experiencing pins and needles and shortly afterwards, left sided numbness from head to toe and a limp. At first, she thought it may have been a pinched nerve, but sensibly made the most of her travel insurance, and sought further advice. This young optimist had her life unexpectedly shaken-up - a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Although her family back in Australia were aware of her symptoms, Nekita chose not to share her diagnosis until on home soil. The long haul flight home was a blur, as her only comfort was some reading provided upon diagnosis - "So you've got a chronic disease." Optimistic to the core, this grounded woman read it cover to cover, and simply scribbled out everything negative about the impact of MS. Just weeks before her 20th birthday, she revealed her diagnosis to her shattered family and friends.

Gathering as much information was Nekita's next venture, only to feel she was drowning in negativity so she decided to turn it around, step back from it all and allow the grieving, denial, anger and acceptance to run its course. Utilising her sense of humor was just the right medicine for everyone in her circle of influence.

Recommended, appropriate and focused education provided empowerment and involvement in MS Australia's Peer Support Community and other MS on-line communities provided much needed perspective to ignore the "internet garbage" and harness the expert knowledge available and find the best in every situation in her own way.

MS Australia - ACT/NSW/VIC recommends this intuitive and dynamic young woman, who will share with you intimately the spectrum of emotions upon diagnosis of chronic illness when you are labelled "just too young", and how a changed perspective can lead to a "roll with the punches" attitude.

For more information:

If you would like to book an MS Ambassador call (03) 9845 - 2700 or email ambassadors-vic@msaustralia.org.au