My name is Sharon Reid and I am a bubbly 33-year old. I live in Letchworth with my Husband Adrian. We have been together for 13 years and finally made it down the aisle on the 14th April 2007.

Up until the beginning of 2005 I worked as a Manager in retail but due to a decrease in my mobility, fatigue and worsening of my eyesight I had to give up work. I felt I had achieved a lot during my 8 years in retail and can look back on them with fond memories. I try not to dwell too much on what I can't do anymore but what I still can do.

My symptoms first started about 12 years ago but were very mild to start with and was told by doctors that there was nothing wrong with me. I thought I was going mad.

Then in 2002 I went for a routine check up at the opticians and the guy who was covering the practice that day said my nerves in my eyes were very pale and asked why I had not been referred to the hospital. I eventually was and in the following 4 years I had every test going and was told its probably MS. Tests showed inflammation on the spinal cord and optic nerves.

I have had 6 bad relapses in the last 3 years. With each relapse apart from an increase in my usual symptoms I get seizure like fits, severe body spasms and sometimes paralysis in my legs, lower back and right arm.

In between relapses I have very weak legs and right arm and have to use a wheelchair. I get numbness, spasticity, pain, other sensory problems and I am registered blind.  I also get problems with my speech, I sometimes slur and other time I can trip over words or say the wrong words altogether.

I do keep smiling and have a wonderful supportive husband and group of friends who I have met through our local MS Group.

Both the Wednesday Club that I go to and the  MS Friends Group have been a great help to me. We don't just talk about our symptoms but anything and everything. We have a laugh and a good moan sometimes.

Best of all we eat loads of chocolate cake and drink buckets of coffee!

I really enjoy sitting in our garden with my husband having a BBQ, smelling the flowers and feeling the sunshine on my face. It is so relaxing. I also enjoy listening to music, listening to my talking books and going out for a walk with my husband pushing me in the wheelchair.

I am a real girlie girl so anything pink is an absolute must!

Even though I have this illness I try not to let it get me down. I try to stay positive and stay strong and look forward to each day. You appreciate the smaller things in life that perhaps before you may have passed them by.