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Kürşat Korkut
Age: 39
Country: Turkey
Type of MS: RRMS
Year of diagnosis: 2002
I was born in İstanbul, Turkey, on 22 May 1969. After finishing my studies at Kadıköy College I went on to study Tourism Management at Marmara University.
I started working as a merchandiser for Nestlé in 1989 but, in 1992, decided to establish my own company with some colleagues of mine, with whom I had also studied at university.
In my free time I sang in the TRT polyphonic youth choir and managed a radio programme on our choral performances.
In 1992, my girlfriend and I moved into our own house and were married a year later. We had our twin boys in 1998, their names are Ogetay and Batuhan and they are currently at primary school.
During this time I worked very hard. My partners and I expanded the business by establishing two more companies focusing on tourism and event management and other activities in the merchandising sector. I was responsible for leading the tourism agency and event management company and oversaw all the organisational and logistical aspects. Attending to my clients’ needs meant that I was away from home a lot, spending much of my time travelling between different cities and countries. I was very ambitious and had so many dreams and hopes for my business, my children and my life.
It was then that I started to experience dizzy spells, fatigue and, at times, my speech became slurred. I reported this to my doctor who sent me for an MRI scan. My resulting MS diagnosis in 2002 led to me leaving my business partners and stopping my work. I also got divorced. All of this happened within three months.
I didn’t know anything about MS and I didn’t take any treatment for the first six to seven months after my diagnosis. However, walking even short distances became difficult, I was experiencing more dizziness and felt fatigued more of the time. I felt my health was worsening so I spoke to my doctor who recommended I see the best neurologist for MS in İstanbul.
Six months after my first MRI scan I had a lumbar puncture, a second MRI scan and other clinical tests to be told that my MS was in the relapse-remitting stage soon to develop into secondary progressive. I started betaferon injections after taking cortisone pills for three to four months.
During the first few years after diagnosis I did not leave my house. As my parents had passed away I only spoke about my disease to my brother and a few close friends, gradually I came to realise that I have to fight it.
That was when I attended the 2007 Turkish MS Society National MS Day. I met with the members and, as a result, began to participate in the Society’s monthly meetings for people with MS and their families. These are led by a neurologist, invited by the Society’s Board.
Also in 2007 I returned to my singing and joined three choirs; the İstanbul European Choir, the Warada Choir and the MS Society Choir. I performed in two concerts with the İstanbul European Choir, a large choir of around 100 members which focuses on classical music such as Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana and Puccini’s Messa. The Warada Choir which is made up of 15 people sings traditional Circassian (Abhazian) music and the small MS Society Choir performs Turkish music at the Society’s events. In spite of my fatigue I really enjoy the rehearsals and concerts and find singing very satisfying.
I believe that we will beat MS and encourage you to live your life and don't let MS overcome you.
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