THE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY

www.mssociety.org.uk/branches/wandwessex/bristol

The Bristol Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society is one of the 360 branches which together make the Society the largest UK charity for people with MS. It is estimated that there are approximately 1300 people with MS in our region.

The branch network is the bedrock of the organisation and our Welfare Team at our Information Centre at the Bristol General Hospital provides essential help and support to all persons (whether members of the Society or not) afflicted with MS. The team of volunteers strive to respond to the questions posed by this life long, complex and unpredictable condition. Some people with MS are diagnosed when very young: with others it strikes many years later. The course of the condition varies. Even when people have symptoms in common, their experiences are likely to vary.

We constantly battle with Social Services when we are requested for help in the provision of amenities that we believe to be their responsibility. Additionally we are asked to assist with the cost of stays in our Respite Care homes, and holidays. For the past 3 years, we (and 2 generous sponsors) have been funding the employment of a NHS MS Nurse at Frenchay!! The extent of our ability to respond to all these requests depends entirely on our success in fund raising.

Our services are entirely free of charge and we are totally dependent on donations and legacies and the usual fund raising activities.

CHEQUE PRESENTATION OF MONEY RAISED AT THE ANNUAL DINNER
Stephanie Saunders, on behalf of the Bristol branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, attended our Committee meeting to receive what she described as the magnificent cheque for £650, which had been collected at the dinner. She thanked us for our most generous gift, but suffering from the disease, we asked her to tell us a little about herself, and how MS had altered her life.

Up until late 2001 Stephanie had enjoyed good health but noticed that her feet were beginning to feel tight. She didn't take much notice until it began to affect her sleeping, which had a knock on effect in her work, being in charge of an acute hospital ward. Pins and needles became frequent, and she consulted her GP. She carried out the usual tests, and referred her to a neurologist, who arranged for an MRI scan. Even with earplugs, Stephanie found it a noisy procedure. Just before Easter, the result came through. It was consistent with MS.

Although a senior nurse, neurology was not in her field, and Stephanie had no idea that her symptoms could be MS. She explained that it is an inflammatory disease of the nervous system. You cannot catch it, and it's not hereditary. Indeed, its cause is unknown. The nerves from the brain are protected by myelin - rather like the insulation in an electric cable- and it is this myelin that breaks down, interfering with the messages from the brain to the muscle.

Stephanie turned to her GP for advice, only to find that she was her first patient with MS! She contacted the Society's national help line, who responded with a healthy supply of informative literature, together with details of who to contact at the Society's Bristol branch. Thus started a meaningful relationship with its Welfare officer, who was always at the end of the phone, answering her questions in an understanding manner. She was assisted through the paperwork in applying for government grants, and after being assessed by an independent doctor was successful in obtaining both elements of the Disability Living allowance, as well as the Mobility allowance. By this time, Stephanie was off work, and had gone from walking with no stick, to a stick, before requiring the assistance of a rollator and a wheel chair.

The MS Society have an ongoing policy of funding specialist nurses, and the Bristol branch had been responsible for the appointment of just such a nurse at Frenchay hospital. Not only was this nurse a professional, and knowledgeable in the disease, but having a diploma in counseling, she was fully equipped to assist Stephanie, and a sound relationship has developed between them, which is ongoing. It is unbelievable that such a post relied on the Bristol branch for funding (who were greatly assisted by other charities).

The Society's twin objective is assistance to sufferers, as well as to promote research, and Stephanie concluded by telling us of one of the studies currently being carried out by Professor Neil Scolding at Frenchay. His team is examining the possibility of stem cells being developed so that it is possible for them to repair the damaged myelin. It is work like this, which Stephanie hopes will one day lead to a cure, but until that day arrives, she knows that the Bristol branch will be at hand for assistance.