Link February 2019 Volume 28 Issue 1 | Page 27

An inspirational moment Melbourne woman Donna Tsironis shares how a tearful experience six years ago became a positive and life- changing moment, when words from her young son inspired her to live her best life possible. B efore my physical health deteriorated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), I used to embrace the feeling of getting up on weekends, anticipating the day ahead – the sheer excitement of the Donna Tsironis with her son Nash at the Coldplay concert in Melbourne. “Mum, keep going, you’re a good unknown, the unravelling of a new person and life’s precious,” he said day. But many years later, all those with a kind voice. wonderful feelings changed. There Hearing your only child tell you and to not take anything for granted. Taking up study in writing was a fantastic move for me and very therapeutic. Back in the ‘old’ days, something like this is mind-blowing. I adored attending theatre and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. musicals. This was another passion frame, I stumbled toward it, keeping This very genuine and sympathetic that I revisited. I even started my hands firmly planted on the side of comment will stay with me forever. attending concerts: fabulous! our bed for stability. I suspected that I I think of it every time I have Having a cuppa at a café with good was going to need a wheelchair soon. challenging and lousy moments. food, friends, family and carers also I knew from this point on that become a new favourite ritual. Boy I wasn’t any sense of excitement. Locating my red shiny walking Can I make it to the breakfast table without wobbling like jelly? I sank my life would need to be enriched onto the chair, drained from walking and a few behaviours needed a few steps. Tears were running down changing. There were quite a few Saturday morning moment taught me my face. I felt everything reaching a fun things that I used to engage in, a very valuable lesson – to love life. climax. I’d had enough. so I started re-introducing sweet I then heard my son’s sweet voice. He overheard me sobbing in the experiences to my life. My son’s words prompted me to had so much to catch up on. And it’s been great ever since that Donna Tsironis lives in Melbourne with her husband George and son Nash. She is currently writing a book kitchen and approached me. Feeling consciously seek the absolute best in featuring a collection of personal embarrassed, I looked up wiping my every day. I decided to take further stories that reflect her life with MS. teary face. I cannot forget the words counselling, to savour and enjoy the that came out of his mouth. companionship of family and friends; linkonline.com.au Link welcomes contributions via [email protected] contribution 27