Ninfa Monarres Madrid

Country: Mexico
Age: 48
Profession: Childcare worker
Type of MS: RRMS
Year of diagnosis: 1999




Today I would like to share with you what life has been like since the arrival of multiple sclerosis (MS) for me and my family, which is very big: we are eight sisters and one brother, my mum and dad and, of course, my own family, my three children (two girls and a boy) and two granddaughters.




When I was 30 I had my youngest daughter (Flor Anahí) and, as sometimes happens in life, I got divorced and started to fight for my children. The eldest married and my son went to study where his dad lived. At the time I was a childcare worker in a children’s nursery. I loved my job and was promoted to director, when I received an unexpected visit from MS, a friend I share with people all over the world: in Mexico alone there are 15,000 people with MS.




The worst thing is that MS came to stay. I asked myself: ‘Why me?’, ‘why did it choose me? ‘Why now with my future looking so bright? You can imagine how I felt: the successful, enterprising Ninfa who never thought that anything could stop her was no more.

From this point on my life changed. It was very difficult to accept MS. At work they told me that I wouldn’t be able to work with the children any more in case I dropped them. I didn’t have any strength, my legs were just about responding and were very painful, my headaches were really bad, I had double vision, my hands and feet felt numb and it was very difficult for me to get up after sitting or lying down for a while. My daughter, who was only 9 at the time, cared for me until my eldest daughter, who was then living in the USA told me: “Mother, come to live here with me, everything will be alright.” I did as she said; I sold my house and went to live with her. After a month of being there I was hospitalised because I could no longer walk. Because of this I then became depressed, which was the hardest aspect to deal with, and I cried all the time. I didn’t want to live anymore. Twice I tried to end it all, but this wasn’t possible because there were always people looking out for me.

It was in the USA that I met the man who is now my husband; he is also ill (he has Parkinson’s disease) and has supported me for 10 years. He is a good man who loves and cares for me very much. He thinks I’m great and he has helped me a lot. He brought me to live here, in Guadalajara, due to the lovely mild climate: it is never too hot or cold. He took me to see a doctor renowned for his dedication towards people with MS.

Even on seeing how I was, my older sister (who also lives in Guadalajara) didn’t believe I had MS. So, one day, when my mother came to see me they almost ‘carried’ me to the doctor and he confirmed the diagnosis. It was then that I first heard about the MS association in Jalisco – Multiple Sclerosis Jalisco A.C. The doctor told me that it would really help me to join this group, as I would learn about the different experiences of people in the same situation as me and that this would help me to accept and learn to live with my MS. At the time there were only around 25 people in the support group. I joined and here I remain, at the association. But that is not all! I am now the President and we currently have 250 members. I also represent the Mexican MS Federation (EMMEX), which brings together 29 associations throughout the country. I am also the Secretary of the Latin American Federation (ULASEM).