I am Willeke-Maya, a quirky, tenacious and neurologically compromised female expat living in Ireland since 2002. Two and a half years after emigrating, I was diagnosed with MS and trigeminal neuralgia. Both seemed awkward, puzzling and easier said than done at first. Any illness is unwelcome, and life often feels and sounds like a war zone, especially when excruciating facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia) joins the sound of screaming children, banging doors and sudden loud noise into auditory hell (hyperacusis) and fatigue that belongs in the narcolepsy category of life. Elsewhere, neuropathic pain, vertigo, ataxia and prospective memory issues are just a few of the other symptoms that occupy my day. Despite having accepted my illness and all that it brings, MS is the type of illness that carries this tagline, "The illness is mine, but the tragedy theirs,” when asked how loved ones feel about your condition. Buzzwords like the above don’t calm down overactive minds. But, life goes on. Fifteen years with a progressive, neurodegenerative illness beg you to keep your chin up, for there is no other way to go through life. I hope you will find some solace in what I write and do feel free to comment or send a private message in the Contact page. I began my blog 'Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me' (IMSM) in a bid to convey optimism through writing. It turned into an award-winning blog that recounts my journey on becoming normal when life with MS is a beautiful mess. By sharing thoughts, hopes and fears, it turned into a mix of personal stories and info about MS. My goal is to connect with people who like me, found themselves in front of MS's door, and were dragged in for an extended stay in one of its uncomfortable, dark-lit backrooms. Hopefully, we will connect somehow to share its burden and be an inspiration to each other. After all, IMSM was created to do just that: trying to make sense of MS nonsense. Now 17 years in Ireland, I remain fiercely independent as always, I hope to help change people’s perception of invisible illnesses like MS. AWARDS 2018 Winner Best Blog Post with ‘3443 Needles’, Blog Awards Ireland, Ashville Media Group, Dublin, Ireland ◾ MyTherapy: Multiple Sclerosis Blogs: 10 of the Best in 2019 ◾ Ireland Blog Awards: Finalist 2014, 2015, 2017 ◾ MyTherapy: Best MS Blog for Simplicity 2018 ◾ Everyday Health: Top 10 MS Blog of 2018 ◾ Feedspot: Top 50 MS Blog 2017, 2018, 2019 Contributor to: ◾ Novartis MS blog Living Like You ◾ Teva’s MS blog Life Effects ◾ MS Ireland’s blog MS & Me ◾ The Mighty ◾ Guest contributor to MyTherapy