In August 2021 I was admitted to hospital suffering from acute pain behind my left eye that had got progressively worse over several days leading up to the admission. Initially I had dismissed the pain as a severe headache/migraine however I had an incline that this pain was different. Upon examination by a consultant Ophthalmologist it was confirmed that I was suffering from a condition called ‘Optic Neuritis’ (Inflammation of the Optic Nerve). I spent 3 days in hospital on a prescription of intravenous Steroids to reduce the Inflammation and manage the pain. The impact of the inflammation resulted in the complete loss of vision in my left eye which took approximately 3 months to recover – however due to the damage to the Optic Nerve, my vision in the left eye is now only about 80% of how it used to be with me now being prescribed glasses to assist with my vision .Not having ever heard of Optic Neuritis – I also did not know that people who are diagnosed with the condition also have a 50% probability of also going on to develop or be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. On the 6th of September 2022 following months of hospital visits, MRI Scans, Lumbar Punctures, and Medical tests I received the news that the family had been dreading - I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). Having received the diagnosis, both myself and my amazing family are adapting to the changes that are necessary to best manage the condition as well as raising awareness of MS for people to understand further. Both my son (Archie) and I have decided (perhaps somewhat foolishly) to jump out of an aeroplane and do a Tandem Skydive at a height of 15,000 feet (to include 60 seconds of freefall)! We are now looking for much needed donations from friends, family, work colleagues (present & past) to fund the event and raise as much money as possible for the Wessex MS Therapy Centre.
Weather permitting, the jump is scheduled for Saturday the 9th of September 2023.
