The MS Game Changer Lottery raises funds to assist the MS Society of South Australia and the Northern Territory, which supports people with multiple sclerosis and funds research to find a cause and a cure.
But what is multiple sclerosis? What is it like to live with multiple sclerosis?
Olivia Crouch knows only too well. In 2016, Olivia was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis; a specific type of MS in which patients have periods of stability between relapses.
“I was on holiday with my partner in Victoria at the time, and I woke up one morning with a bit of blurred vision and didn’t think too much of it. It got a lot worse over the next few days which led us to go home and go to the hospital,” she said.
“It was a huge shock. You sort of think ‘that won’t happen to me’.”
Multiple sclerosis has a variety of symptoms, which makes it hard to diagnose. Every person experiences it differently. For Olivia, symptoms included blurred vision, fatigue, and pins-and-needles.
“The diagnosis process is really long, so you sit there for days and days without knowing what’s happening. Once the diagnosis came through it was a bittersweet relief to know there was a name for everything that was happening to me,” she says.
“For the first year or so my symptoms were quite stable but since then it’s definitely progressed. A lot of my main symptoms are left-side weakness to the body, pins and needles, vision problems and fatigue.”
There is no cure for MS, rather, patients have their symptoms managed. Olivia revives a fortnightly injection and medication for pins and needles.
“I’m on medication, so I have an injection every fortnight which slows the progression. Other than that I just try and stay as healthy as I can and really try to limit my stress,” Olivia explains.
Through it all, the MS Society has been a pillar of support for Olivia.
“When I was first diagnosed, an MS nurse came out to my home and met with me, my partner and my parents. She took the time to explain what MS is, what to expect and how to best manage my symptoms. We still touch base once or twice a month and they give you advice on what to do and what to look for
“It’s so cliche to say, but honestly I don’t know how I would actually cope without them. The fact that the service is free… it’s almost a robbery. They’re amazing. They literally go above and beyond,” Olivia says.
Olivia hopes that, above all, the lottery will create conversations and help raise awareness for MS.
“MS is very misunderstood. It can be a very lonely and invisible disease because a lot of the symptoms are internal. It’s very hard to show people that you are struggling sometimes. So I think the awareness is really needed.”
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, neurodegenerative condition that affects the Central Nervous System. Multiple sclerosis is the most common degenerative neurological condition diagnosed in young adults, with over 75% of people diagnosed under the age of 40.
The MS Game Changer Lottery is currently taking place with over 4,600 prizes to be won from a $3 million prize pool.
Two lucky winners will each get to build a $1.1 million home of their dreams in the suburb of their choice, or take home $1 million in cash.
To buy your tickets for the MS Game Changer Lottery, head to https://msgamechanger.com.au/.
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