“Some days are okay, some days are awful” - Ballina woman Rachel Keavney opens up about life with MS
For World MS Day (which takes place today), Rachel Keavney is sharing her story of resilience, motherhood and living with an “invisibly unpredictable” illness — while urging others not to suffer in silence
For Rachel Keavney, living with multiple sclerosis (MS) means learning to navigate a condition that changes from day to day — and sometimes from hour to hour.
The Ballina woman describes MS as “invisibly unpredictable”, a condition that can leave her feeling strong and capable one day, only to face exhaustion, pain or mobility challenges the next.
Now, as World MS Day is on today May 30, Rachel is sharing her experience as part of MS Ireland’s MS Journeys: Many Faces, One Community campaign, helping to raise awareness of the realities of living with multiple sclerosis and reminding others that no one faces the condition alone.
“Some days can be very, very challenging,” Rachel says. “But I’m just glad to be out of hospital most of the time.”
Multiple sclerosis affects the central nervous system, disrupting communication between the brain and body. But as Rachel explains, the condition is far more complex than many people realise.
“One of the biggest things that surprised me is how connected the body and mind are,” she says. “People often think MS is only about mobility, but it can affect so many things — your bladder, speech, fatigue, concentration, emotions, and everyday life in ways people don’t always see.”
For Rachel, living with an invisible disability can be one of the hardest aspects of the condition.
As a young woman who sometimes relies on walking aids or a blue badge, she says there are moments when strangers judge what they do not understand.
“People might stare or approach you because they don’t understand,” she says. “It can be difficult when your illness isn’t visible.”
Yet despite the uncertainty MS can bring, Rachel says it has also transformed how she sees life.
She now finds joy in things she may once have overlooked — spending time with family, slowing down, listening to her body and appreciating ordinary moments.
“It’s made me grateful for the simple things,” she says.
Rachel credits her medical team at Sligo University Hospital and Deel Medical with helping her through the difficult days, describing them as “like family” and always available when needed.
She also speaks warmly of the support she has found through MS Ireland.
“When I was diagnosed, one of the first things I got was an MS Ireland booklet,” she says. “It was actually a relief because it showed me there was support outside of hospital.”
Though Rachel admits she waited nearly two years before fully engaging with those supports, she now wishes she had reached out sooner.
Since then, she has taken part in yoga and reflexology sessions, online fatigue management groups and even an entrepreneurship programme delivered in partnership with TU Dublin and AIB.
For Rachel, being part of the MS community means knowing there is always someone to call for reassurance, understanding or practical advice.
Her message to anyone newly diagnosed is simple: take things slowly.
“Take your new life day by day,” she says. “Some days are okay and some days are awful. Don’t be afraid to ask for support.”
She encourages people to speak openly, reach out to MS nurses or support organisations, and even keep symptom diaries to help doctors better understand how the condition affects daily life.
Rachel is also proud of the milestones she has reached despite the challenges.
Becoming a mother, she says, was a long and emotional journey involving medication changes and careful planning. Last year, she married her husband after medical difficulties forced them to postpone their wedding — a moment she describes with immense gratitude.
But equally important, she says, are the quieter victories.
“Sometimes it’s celebrating the small wins — walking a bit further, being able to shower, or managing fatigue a little better.”
Above all, Rachel wants people to understand one simple truth about MS: no two days are the same.
“Just because someone with MS could do something yesterday doesn’t mean they can do it today,” she says. “Sleep, stress, temperature, emotions, food, exercise — everything can affect it.”
For Rachel, World MS Day matters because it opens conversations and builds understanding.
“It spreads awareness and helps educate people,” she says. “And for one day, it feels like I don’t have to explain myself.”
Through voices like Rachel’s, World MS Day is helping shine a light on the many faces of MS — stories marked by challenge, resilience and the quiet determination to keep moving forward, one day at a time.