Alexia described feeling numbness and pins and needles in her body, similar to the odd sensation of your foot falling asleep, that usually started with her fingers and spread elsewhere. But instead of lasting a few minutes, it lasted much longer, sometimes even for 48 hours.

Receiving the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis wasn’t a total surprise as Alexia’s mum had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis several years before. Their symptoms are different but there were a few tell-tale signs that gave Alexia a nagging feeling she knew what her symptoms meant. 

“I've been fortunate enough that I found certain treatments that help, like infusions that I have every four weeks. Medication has helped control the symptoms and the fatigue. But I just try and get on with life as best as possible,” says Alexia.

Alexia took the advice from her doctor about multiple sclerosis and combined this with what she’d learned through her Mum’s experience previously. She also kept informed about her illness through MS Australia – who provide invaluable information about everything from managing symptoms to medications, treatments and what support was available to her.

“There’s so much information online as well as other people sharing their own experiences. There are so many variations to this condition and I didn’t want to do the comparison thing. I just wanted to deal with my own situation, and I didn’t want to go down any rabbit holes – so I just stuck to the facts and sources of where I got my information from.”

When there was an opportunity to travel to China in October 2019 and raise money for a cause that has impacted her and her family as much as it has, Alexia jumped at it.