Wendy Cheng

Nationality: China
Age: 35
Year of diagnosis: 2003
Type: Relapsing-remitting MS
Profession: Regional manager, manufacturing company



In 2001, just after celebrating my 28th birthday I joined a swim tour. Before the tour I had an injection of the Hepatitis B vaccine in case the water was not clean. After the trip, my back felt itchy but I didn't pay much attention to it as I assumed it was the bacteria from the water that was bothering me. Therefore I didn't see a doctor. Ten days later, I had difficulty climbing the stairs and could hardly put my feet into my shoes. I never thought that these were the first signs of MS!

When I went to the hospital, the doctor told me, "If the disease worsens, your body condition may deteriorate like Haidi Zhang!" Haidi Zhang is the President of the Chinese Disabled Persons Federation, who wrote a book after she was paralysed. The first thought that I had was, "Damn it! My dream of driving my car on road trips will never come true!" After experiencing unhappy thoughts for several days, I decided to look at life in an optimistic way. I thought about alternatives to working in manufacturing, for example, I could become a self employed tutor, counsellor or set up an e-business. Fortunately, I left the hospital after one week's treatment and apart from putting on weight my life went back to normal.

At the end of 2003, I had a sensation in my chest which felt like I was wearing a restrictive girdle, so I went back to hospital again. In the 18 months that followed, I went back into hospital twice due to the numbness in my legs. I eventually accepted the truth that I was an MS patient. I learned more about MS by looking at the internet and decided that my life would not be defeated by it. Besides, I have my family to support me. MS may damage my health, but it cannot destroy my life. In June 2007, I started a Masters of Business Administration degree. In the same year, I was promoted to regional manager at a multinational firm.

MS is not that frightening at all. I have learned that as long as I keep a positive attitude, accept this special 'gift' with no complaints, enjoy care and love from family and friends and follow the treatment prescribed by doctors, I can live a normal life just like others do. I am an active member of an online MS group including several people with MS and medical professionals. We have come together to try to create a national MS society to help and support MS families in China. I strongly believe that once more people are aware of this disease, better treatment and a cure of MS will finally be sought, and together, we will win the battle with MS! We are not alone.

MS China blog

MS China