Mum recalls the moment friend diagnosed her with multiple sclerosis after doctors missed the signs

By William On May 28, 2023

Sharee Richards’ life was never the same after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2010.

The single mum from Melbourne hasn’t felt herself for three years, but her GP didn’t pick up on any of the subtle warning signs and was advised to ‘live healthy’.

‘I used to walk four days a week, but I had trouble lifting one leg. I also felt incredibly tired,” Sharee told FEMAIL.

It was only when she turned to a close friend – who is also a doctor – that she was finally diagnosed within two days.

“Our sons played sports together and one day I talked to her about my symptoms and she noticed that my leg was dragging when I walked. I went to the hospital that Saturday and was diagnosed on Monday,” Sharee said.

The now 57-year-old, who has no family history of the disease, is now confined to a wheelchair and completely dependent on others following a surgery that went horribly wrong.

Sharee Richards (pictured with son Josh) has been living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for 13 years. Before she was diagnosed, she barely knew what MS was

In 2013, Sharee started using a cane, which was a “big problem,” then had to use a walker and had to stop driving in 2016. All the while she worked full time.

She later underwent a nephrostomy — a procedure to drain urine from the kidneys using a catheter — but the doctors “accidentally cut her bladder,” causing Sharee to develop sepsis.

“I was supposed to be in hospital for six days to recover, but it turned into four months,” she said.

“I had to have six surgeries in six weeks to recover from what happened and lost complete control of my legs and one arm.

“It was very frustrating because it shouldn’t have happened. It was a big change and it wasn’t in my life plan.’

She now has a colostomy bag and a permanent catheter.

In addition, Sharee now has difficulty speaking due to MS and is forced to ask her 26-year-old son, Josh, to help with much of her care.

“I have a very clear memory of the day I was diagnosed – I was very happy to have been given the prognosis that I laughed and cried at the same time,” she recalls.

“I didn’t know anything about MS then and didn’t understand it. I just found out about the MS Readathon we did at school.

“I feel like there isn’t enough information out there about MS. No one really knows what it is until they know someone who has it.”

Today, Sharee has trouble speaking, can’t walk, and can’t take care of herself, which puts a burden on her son Josh (pictured for prognosis)

What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

MS is the most common acquired chronic neurological disease affecting young adults, often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40 and affecting three times more women than men in Australia.

So far there is no cure.

There is no known single cause of MS, but many genetic and environmental factors have been shown to contribute to its development.

In MS, the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the fatty material – called myelin – around the nerves.

This results in a range of symptoms, but no two people experience MS the same way.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has many symptoms, which can be variable and unpredictable. No two people will experience the exact same symptoms, and these symptoms may be a one-time occurrence, may come and go, or change in severity over time.

Source: MS Australia

Sharee needs daily medication to help her symptoms, along with going to the physio twice a week and seeing the occupational therapist once a week.

She also has a team of caretakers who help with day-to-day living.

If anything, the diagnosis has brought Sharee and Josh closer together.

Josh said that during his teenage years he was embarrassed to help his mother in public, such as feeding her in a restaurant, but now he doesn’t care.

“I always do everything I can to make sure she’s comfortable, that’s the most important thing,” he said.

However, Sharee thinks emotionally about how her diagnosis will affect her son.

“To be honest, the saddest aspect to me is the impact it has had on Josh. He has had to change his whole life around me and my lack of independence,” Sharee said.

This month, Josh and countless others will participate in The May 50K charity event throughout the month to raise money for MS research

She added that one of the biggest challenges is acceptance.

“I have had to accept it and know that this is how it is. But I have seized opportunities in my own way and met lovely people everywhere,” she said.

This month, Josh and countless others will participate in The May 50K charity event throughout the month to raise money for MS research. So far, $33,000 has been raised.

MS is the most common acquired chronic neurological disease affecting young adults, often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.

More than 10 Australians are diagnosed with MS each week and 33,000 people across the country are currently living with the disease.

To read more about The May 50K and donate, Click here.