Andrijana Nikolić

Country: Montenegro
Connection with MS: Mother has MS
Profession: Executive Director, Montenegro MS Association, Udruženje Multiple Skleroze Crne Gore-Podgorica
Age: 38




I was 12 years old when my mother was diagnosed with MS. At the time I was living in Sibenik, Croatia. My family and I did not know what MS was. Although the diagnosis was in 1981, she had experienced various symptoms for six years before this, for example pain in her legs and loss of sight.

Between 1981 and 1992 my mother had four very difficult relapses. During this period she had four operations on the spine and had to stay in hospital for five to seven months each time and also in a special spa for four months. It was a terrible situation but my father helped care for me and my younger brother and sister. His love for the family was, and still is, the best medicine. Because of complications with the operations my mother could not walk for eight months; she was not able to stand up or sit. After every relapse and operation our family helped teach her to walk again. We were helped by a physiotherapist who showed us how to give massage treatments to my mother ourselves, to help us save money.

I had to cook for the family and help take care of our house when I came back from school at night. Later, when I was studying in Zadar, I regularly travelled 60km to come home and help mother with her infusion and injections. This was a difficult time in my life. I was young but had the responsibilities of an adult.

In 1991 my husband and I moved to Montenegro where we had two children. After 1992, my mother’s MS became more stable. In 1997 I found a job working as a television health editor and spokesperson. By this time I was living in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, as a single mother. After my personal experience with MS I wanted to help other people in a similar situation so I decided to set up a national MS society in Montenegro. I used my opportunities at work to tell viewers about MS and that there was no MS Society in the country.

The Montenegro MS society, Udruženje Multiple Skleroze Crne Gore-Podgorica, was officially set up in June 2007. We work to raise awareness about MS, help people to stay independent and informed about their health, and to access medical help. We use our projects to suggest to the government what they can do to help. Since the formation of the society we have achieved positive results. We have collected prevalence statistics, produced information bulletins and organised national symposia where people with MS in Montenegro came together for the first time. We also train volunteers to care for people with MS in their own home if they can not walk through our "Help in the House" project.

I am also involved with To Make a Woman’s Government a non-governmental organisation in Montenegro. I am currently one of three candidates for the ministry of health, work and society.

My mother currently has problems with osteoporosis. She can walk, but she has problems with her immune system. Luckily she is a fighter! I help her as much as I can, for example, I by sending her vitamins which are cheaper in Montenegro than Croatia.

My message to people with MS and their family members is to eat healthily and exercise regularly. Be strong, with love in your heart, and think positively. Take time to understand and care for people with MS. Find a good quality of life where possible. I have found mine through my family, hobbies and humanitarian work with people with MS.