Jyoti Ronghe

Country: India
Age: 47
Diagnosis Year: 1998
Type of MS: Secondary progressive
Profession: Adoption consultant



In 1998 I used to learn Bharatnatyam (Indian classical dance) as a hobby with my ten year old daughter. The dancing became difficult, I started having difficulty walking and I also experienced fatigue, so I went to see a doctor. After I had many X-rays and blood tests which came back normal, I was referred to a neurologist. An MRI was done and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) as a result.

I had three general medical practitioners in my family, but none of them had heard of MS. My parents and my husband were sure that it would be curable. When we learnt that it was incurable they were shocked. My mother performed many religious rituals, my husband travelled to far off places to find the cure and my parents tried to find the reason for my illness by looking at our family tree. I read all I could that was available about MS and I told my family that I would have to live with it for all of my life and need their unconditional love and support to manage it.

I am married and have two children. I currently work as an adoption consultant and manage my home with the help of a part-time maid. Sometimes I need help and on some days I try to help others. My MS has taught me to appreciate the little joys of life. I am blessed with a loving and caring family and a large group of supportive friends.

I found out about the MS Society of India (MSSI) and their chapter where I live in Pune. Being a professional social worker and a certified counselor I think it is my moral duty to help fellow people with MS. I started getting actively involved in the activities of MSSI and became a committee member in 2000. Now I counsel people affected by MS, help with fund raising and awareness raising projects.

In February I organised a human chain event with the MSSI Pune chapter to raise funds and awareness for people with MS. This initiative was my idea and I am proud that it was so successful. On World MS Day our chapter of MMSI formed a human chain in Pune to show solidarity with people with MS across the globe, to spread awareness about MS and raise funds. Celebrating World MS Day helped to clear the misconception that MS is rare in tropical countries and was a step towards a world without MS.

I am a member of MSIF’s people with MS international committee (PwMSIC) representing India and the Afro Asia region. My MS has taught me to appreciate small joys of life. Remember you are someone's "M"y "S"pecial "P"erson.

MS Society India