MSRC Work Experience - Pupil's Thoughts

Hi I’m Loretta, and I have recently completed two weeks work experience at MSRC.

To be honest I didn’t have the slightest clue who they were and (they’ll hate my guts for saying this) the only MS charity I’d previously heard of was the MS Society.

However, I soon found out how much MORE they do for people affected by MS compared with the society.

They’re a lovely little bunch of people and went miles out of their way to make myself and my PA Mo feel welcome. They’re also a bit mad and this helped!

They are SO hard working and it amazed me how little people know about them as a charity, and looking back it also makes me angry how they are not government funded and how they don’t get much credit for the work they do.

I did actually do some work (just in case your thinking otherwise!) and I developed a new found love for the franking machine!

They haven’t got rid of me, they’ve got me doing the adidas Women's 5K Challenge in September.

Anyway Thanks for having us, we love you!

Loretta and Mo xxxx

I chose to do the ‘Daughter’s to work day’ at the MSRC.

I began by having a look at the website, I came into the centre not knowing anything about MS at all and I felt I have achieved greatly by this experience.

From the website, I have learnt about the different types of MS several different symptoms, some causes, treatments, associated areas, drugs, research, other conditions and some helpful exercises.

It is thought that around 100 thousand people in the UK have MS. I have found out that there are four different types of MS.

They are:

Benign Multiple Sclerosis (15% of MS sufferers have this type of the illness and it means that there is no increase in the amount and seriousness of the symptoms),

Relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis ( 25% of MS sufferers have this type and this is when they have episodes of symptoms when not all symptoms will emerge ),

Secondary Chronic Progressive (40% of MS sufferers have this form of the illness and it is when the condition of the individual begins to gradually worsen over a period of time. ) and

Primary Progressive ( 15% of MS sufferers have this kind and it is when the disease starts with no warning and then gets worse at time goes on).

I have also found out about the several different symptoms of this illness. There are many of them and they include:-

PHYSICAL: 
Loss of control of the muscles
Swallowing Difficulties
Inability to perform normal everyday movements:
Doing up buttons
Tying up shoe laces
Find walking difficult
Legs or arms could suddenly go into spasm

LOSS OF CO-ORDINATION:
Vertigo
Ataxia
Staggering
Clumsiness

TIREDNESS:
Constant desire for resting
Dizziness

VISUAL:
Blurred vision
Temporary blindness

SPEECH:
Slurring
Scanning
 

I have also found out that MS is not a genetic illness and that victims do not have all of the symptoms. It is thought that maybe some of the causes are lack of Vitamin D and having a modern diet.

I have also learnt about the different treatments:

Complementary Therapies
Different Drugs
Counselling
Exercise and Physiotherapy
Diet
Supplements: Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium

After learning about these aspects I then went on to find out about different researches and trials that have been carried out to help MS sufferers try and carry on with their lives as much and as easy as possible. It has been thought that Curcumin, which is found in curry spice turmeric, can block progression of MS. A cooling therapy has also been found that after acute cooling sessions the symptoms improve. People’s outlook on life could also be improved with a reduction of depression by watching funny video’s for 30 minutes a day for 4 weeks.

After looking through the website I then looked through a magazine called ‘New Pathways’ which has been made by the MSRC. By looking at this I have found out that it is very good magazine because it covers everyone’s different ways of life and how they get round all of there problems as well as supporting people who suffer from MS.

Whilst looking through the magazine I found several different stories of people who suffer from MS and still have these amazing discoveries and experiences that they have achieved.

There are also problem pages, which encourage people to come forward with solutions that helped them and could benefit people who have struggled perhaps with similar problems.

I found working in the office a brilliant experience and I benefited from it greatly. I also found out that there are many different ways of fund-raising to help the MSRC. I particularly enjoyed going round the website and finding out different facts about this particular illness. I have also had the experience of knowing about what they put in the magazine, which has encouraged me to continue to think about doing journalism.

I would definitely recommend doing a ‘Daughter’s to work Day’ in the MSRC to anyone. I positively found it more interesting than school

I have learnt a lot already. Before I came here I only knew a bit about MS and every day I have been finding out more and really enjoying it.

Yesterday, (29th) I was filing all the subscriptions for New Pathways  Magazine and didn't realise how many people had the magazine and knew about it.    

I will be looking forward to the next few weeks!