Stories of hope filled the room at Hotel Savera on Tuesday evening, as persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) got together to mark World Multiple Sclerosis Day (observed on the last Wednesday of May) and to share their experiences of battling the neurological condition. The programme was conducted by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India’s Chennai Chapter.
The speakers, encouraged by actor and theatre personality Karthik Kumar, who was the chief guest, spoke about the challenges they faced, their struggles and their determination to keep going and succeed in their careers.
Bharati Kannama, a trainee at Bharat Electronics, spoke about facing symptoms during her first year of college. “In my second year, my vision started to blur. When I was diagnosed with MS, I asked myself why it had to happen to me. I had to travel every week to Chennai for my injections and take a train back to Salem for college in my final year, in the midst of completing projects. It was very difficult but I kept telling myself I could do it,” she said.
Premila Mathew, an executive coach, spoke about having to give up her career at its zenith, and come back home. “I had major depressive episodes then,” she said, explaining that some words from her father had made her determined to succeed again.
Others, including V. Gopi a researcher, Smitha Sadasivan a disability rights activist and V.S. Sunder, a professor at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, spoke about the importance of access.
G. Arjundas, senior neurologist, said that in the last 12 months, he had seen a decrease in the number of MS cases compared to the previous year. “We don’t know the reason yet, but this may be good news,” he said. Anne Gonsalvez, chairperson, Dolly Khanna, secretary of the Society, and others also participated in the programme.
