Hand tremor, blurred vision, or extreme fatigue. This is how the ‘story’ of the frightening disease called MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS often begins. It mainly affects women, and if we do not talk about accidents, it is the most common reason for disability among young people. This chronic autoimmune disease damages the central nervous system, and more than 2.5 million people around the world are treated for it.

The number of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is still rising. Unfortunately, when it comes to awareness of this serious disease, this cannot be said. The organization ‘Spolu môžeme’ is trying to change that. Workshops ‘Spolu môžeme‘

People with ‘esemkou’ often face prejudices and are also troubled by myths such as: “you will end up in a wheelchair, over time you will forget everything”...

Although memory or motor disorders can be part of the disease, today there are modern treatment methods that allow patients with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis to live a full life. The initiative “Spolu Môžeme” also helps, bringing together everyone affected by this disease—professionals and specialists, patients and their relatives.

The ‘SM’ projects this year are devoted to supporting creativity (Spolu Môžeme Tvoriť), but also healthy lifestyle (Spolu Môžeme Cvičiť). Awareness of the diagnosis was also spread by neurologist MUDr. Darina Slezáková, PhD, at the Pohoda Festival with her lecture; she welcomes every activity that strengthens community spirit. A recent inspiring pre-Christmas healthy cooking workshop (Spolu Môžeme Variť) also contributed, where patients learned to prepare gluten-free and lactose-free food.

Multiple sclerosis was also diagnosed in young painter Romana Klementisová. The shock she had to overcome at seventeen did not stop her from pursuing her dream. The hand tremor and other symptoms were stabilized, and Romana studies art at a university in The Hague.

According to her graphics, unique badges were created in the summer, symbolizing support for patients with ‘esemkou’. President of the Slovenský zväz sclerosis multiplex, Jarmila Fajnorová, who has been helping ‘esemkárom’ and ‘esemkárkam’ for three decades, proudly wears them too. Ms. Jarka also has personal knowledge of the importance of early diagnosis—the disease, which has treatment, was also inherited by her grandson. “That is also why I decided to attend the congress for general practitioners, where I—whether with a cane or without—went literally from one doctor to another with brochures in my hand,” the eternal optimist explains with a smile, who at the lecture conveyed to doctors a perspective from the other side.

Wrong information can harm treatment

“The general practitioner is key for us. If the early symptoms of this treacherous disease called MS are neglected, the consequences can be catastrophic...,” adds Jarmila Fajnorová—not only a patient with MS, but also an activist and optimist.

Her words are confirmed by Helena Šurinová, founder of the Spolu Môžeme association. “Every day we receive questions from patients, which we address in the form of expert articles on our portal. This is the age of the internet, and the last thing these people need is incorrect information,” says the initiative’s leader and explains why she took on this demanding project herself. “Our name says it for us. We believe we can do more together! Not to mention that people with ‘esemkou’ can ‘infect’ you with a taste for life... And that is something we healthy people rarely appreciate.”

Text: Kristína Baluchová, Spolu môžeme. Foto: www.spolumozeme.sk