BEST 18 MONTHS
MICHELLE T.
In October 2014 I was in a career I loved, extremely fit (kick boxing training 4 hours a week), and looking forward to the holiday of a life time a couple of weeks ahead. Then on 22 October I collapsed on the way to work with what appeared to be a stroke. My life changed completely that day. I was no longer able to continue with my career, I could barely walk let alone train or kick box and we had to cancel the holiday of a lifetime that we’d saved all year for. My current diagnosis is hemiplegic migraines with a functional neurological disorder. When I saw the opportunity to share our stories on the FND Hope webpage during Awareness Week only two parts of my story came to mind. They are the aspects I think can help others the most: whether they have FND, Cancer or perfect health. I can look back over the last 18 months and, if I choose, I could describe it using events and memories that will make you believe it was the worst 18 months of my life: And that would be the truth. However, I can also look back over the last 18 months and, if I choose, I could describe it in a way that would make you believe it was the best 18 months of my life: That too is the truth. The day I realised that the way I view my life is under my control was the day I learned to start to like my life and myself. With the understanding that there are still positives and that I can choose to concentrate on those came an enormous level of power and control: Something my life had always lacked. The details of my story don’t really matter. We all have negative and positive experiences. All of those experiences are equally valid as everyone’s frame of reference is different. So, yes, I have lost an incredible amount over the last 18 months. But I’ve gained so many things that I never thought I would. And although I would love to regain my losses I am now, possibly, the happiest I have ever been. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I really hope it can help someone… Sorry, I nearly forgot to pass on the second thing I learned through my story: Always, always take out travel insurance….