Ballina woman shares her personal story for World MS Day
Rachel Keaveny from Ballina, Co. Mayo.
For Rachel Keaveny from Ballina, Co. Mayo, living with multiple sclerosis means waking up each day with a level of fatigue that can be hard for others to understand.
As part of MS Ireland's World MS Day 2026 campaign, MS Journeys: Many Faces, One Community, Rachel is sharing her experience to help raise awareness of MS, particularly the invisible symptoms that can affect daily life.
Describing life with MS in one sentence, Rachel says: "It's waking up every day feeling like you've run a marathon the day before. When you probably spent the day on the sofa."
MS has changed the way Rachel thinks about her energy, her priorities and the people she chooses to spend time with. She says it has made her re-evaluate what is important in life. "When your energy is limited you need to think carefully about where and who you spend your energy on. I prioritise the people who I love and don't stress about what anyone else thinks."
Her advice to someone newly diagnosed is honest and compassionate. "It's ok to feel angry for a while. It is a difficult diagnosis. Your life will change and you may have to shift your expectations at times. But a good support system and time make a huge difference."
Family and community support have been very important in Rachel's MS journey. She remembers her mam, aunt and brother taking part in the MS bus experience, which simulates some of the difficulties people with MS may face. Rachel says they were shocked to realise that this was how she felt every day, but their willingness to understand what she was going through meant the world to her.
MS Ireland has also played an important role in her life. When Rachel was first diagnosed, she was assigned a case worker who visited her and listened without judgement while she was still angry and struggling to accept her new normal. MS coffee mornings also helped her connect with others and better understand and accept life with MS.
For Rachel, being part of the wider MS community means hope. Hearing the stories of other people living with MS and seeing everything they had achieved helped inspire and comfort her when her diagnosis felt life-altering. "I want to return the favour," she says.
One of the things that has surprised Rachel most is that, although she was angry and felt she was missing out after diagnosis, MS forced her to slow down and re-evaluate what mattered most. "I have a wonderful life, I'm very happy and content. It is not how I imagined I would end up when I was first diagnosed. It is much better."
Among Rachel's biggest challenges is fatigue, both physical and cognitive.
As a secondary school teacher, fatigue and pain made it increasingly difficult to do her job, leaving her going straight home to bed and spending weekends recovering. Although she loved teaching, she had to prioritise her health and has since started her own business, giving her more flexibility to rest and work when her energy levels are good.
To manage her MS, Rachel says it is important to rest before she becomes too tired, keep on top of hydration and electrolytes, do gentle exercise, and avoid foods that aggravate her symptoms.
Rachel is proud of becoming a mother and starting her own business, which brings together her love of Irish and art. Creating has also helped her process the complex emotions that came with living with MS.
She is keen to challenge the misconception that everyone with MS will end up in a wheelchair, and also wants people to understand that invisible symptoms can be very real. "Just because I don't look disabled doesn't mean my body isn't really struggling to cope with basic tasks."
Her message to others living with MS is simple: "It sucks but if you can make simple choices that bring you joy daily and surround yourself with a good support system then life can be great."
For Rachel, World MS Day is important because it helps educate people about MS as an often invisible illness and encourages compassion for those living with daily symptoms that may not be obvious to others.
Through stories like Rachel’s, MS Ireland’s World MS Day campaign aims to build understanding, challenge misconceptions and remind people living with MS that they are part of a strong, diverse and supportive community.
