Randi Magdi

Randa believes over the past seven years, she's learnt to make the most of life. "I've learnt to live more for the moment and to appreciate things that I used to take for granted - your priorities change," Randa says.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2001, Randa experienced her first "episode" two years earlier, at the age of 35, while on her way to work in London. Walking on a sandy beach in Thailand, Randa felt she had tar stuck to her feet, which only lasted a day or so. She thought nothing of it at the time other than it felt unusual. But it was in London one morning she awoke and felt her legs were detached from her body and day by day, they became weaker. She decided to return home to Australia.

Now 42, Randa has so far fully recovered from each exacerbation within a couple of months and continues to work full-time as a Communications Officer in the public service. "I get comfort from knowing that less than 20% of people with MS require a wheelchair, and feel lucky that my MS is quite manageable," Randa says.

Randa has found MS Australia - ACT/ NSW/VIC MS Connect telephone information line to be particularly helpful when she has a query about her MS, in addition to the information and literature she receives through seminars, the MS library, newsletters and her Outreach Worker. She is also a key member of MS Australia - ACT/ NSW/VIC Advisory Council in NSW, accepting a position because she felt she "could offer ideas on ways services for people with MS could be enhanced."

Music, art history and her endless animal charity work are all dear to Randa's heart. She has always been an active volunteer for charities - well before she got MS. Randa and her loving and supportive partner recently worked on a project to raise the awareness of the plight of young people in aged care nursing homes, raising $10,000 for the project.

This energetic and caring woman has become an MS Ambassador so that she can be a voice for other people with MS. Randa says, "Even though I now have MS, I still love the life I have. In fact, MS has taught me so much and has made me appreciate my life in a way I never could have imagined."

For more information

If you would like to book an MS Ambassador call (02) 9468 - 8300 or email ambassadors-nsw@msaustralia.org.au