Susan decided not to take the drugs and not to get sick again. Instead, she embarked upon making changes in her life. She changed her diet, took up yoga and invented 21 steps that have taken her from walking frame to the picture of health.
Now, at 40, Susan's skin glows, her eyes are bright and her bubbly personality contagious. You can't help smiling when you meet her.
Susan wanted to share her experience but didn't want it to be all about her. She has written a book, In Search of Heath, 21 Steps to Glowing Health. It gives readers the option to include changes to improve their health and wellbeing. Some steps are as simple as drinking warm water and lemon juice first thing in the morning and going for a daily walk. Delicious recipes, face masks, healthy drinks and yoga are also included in this wonderful book. I asked Susan for details.
At what point did you decide MS was not going to get you?
My natural optimism had taken a dive during my stay in hospital. The return of hope came when one of my doctors took the time to dispel my movie-induced notion that MS and wheelchairs came hand-in-hand. It was extremely empowering to have someone in a position of authority believe I could recover fully.
What was the hardest thing to change in your life?
My preconception that I needed to eat meat to survive. Growing up on a farm, consuming protein from animal sources was expected. I had to overcome my conditioning that avoiding meat would make me unhealthy. It was far easier to physically give up meat; the emotional connection took longer to unravel.
What is more important to you, diet or yoga?
I turned to yoga first to regain full movement in my body and I still practise daily.
Next came my diet changes. Without the dietary changes I wouldn't have such a well functioning, healthy digestive system. All the yoga in the world can't counteract making erroneous food choices for our unique bodies. If I had to choose, it would be wholegrains and leafy greens over yoga, as hard as that is for me to admit.
Why do you think yoga is good for the body?
A daily yoga practise will massage the internal organs, extend and strengthen the body, and provide mental clarity for the day ahead. Even 10 minutes a day will make a difference.
There are many bean and lentil dishes in your book. Often these meals "repeat" on people. Any suggestions on how to avoid this?
Soaking dried beans and lentils for 6-24 hours before cooking, and scooping off any foam that forms when they are brought to the boil will make a major difference. Also, including Kombu, a type of seaweed gathered off the coast of NZ, will further improve digestibility and prevent "repeating".
You must have had some hit and misses. What was your biggest mistake?
There hasn't been one big mistake, but many little ones - like trying to grate frozen tofu by hand (the kitchen whiz barely managed it), walking away from the kitchen while waiting for rice to boil (not a good smell), having Pete throw out my soaking grains when doing the dishes (oops, happened only once), or making a smoothie with raw beetroot (great to juice, but not so delicious in a smoothie).
Does your family eat the same meals as you?
They eat some of the same meals as me, like falafels and tempeh. Other times they eat components of my meal.
When I make a hot lentil curry with brown jasmine rice, they will have the rice with a beef stir-fry instead. As my children's taste buds develop to enjoy more spicy food, I anticipate they will eat more of the same meals as I do.
If you had to choose just three of your steps to do every day what would they be?The 21 steps encompass how I live. To exclude even one is hard to imagine, but to pick only three, nearly impossible. That said, my top three would be: drink warm water; yoga; introduce wholegrains.
Do you have any symptoms of MS?
No, I am totally symptom-free.
What is happening in your life now and what's next?
I have just started a new job, working full-time in Havelock North for Catalyst Fuel Refunds.
The month before my 40th birthday I sat my motorbike licence, after my husband bought me a road bike - my parents certainly didn't see that one coming. In keeping with the bike theme, Santa brought each of us a dirt bike last year so, as a family, we regularly travel to trail-bike rides, even going camping (a first for us) at Lake Rotoiti with the bikes in tow. Always on the lookout for new recipes and foods to experiment with, I look forward to the possibilities that have yet to unfold. Healthier now than I was 10 years ago, I plan on keeping it that way!
• The book can be bought at Poppies Havelock North - next door to Bellatino's or online at poppieshavelocknorth.circlesoft.net, or at Cornucopia in Hastings, Serengeti on Joll - 11 Joll Rd, Havelock North. It can also be found on Amazon or createspace.com.
