From the Classroom to the Kitchen Table (Part 1) – Written by Patricia Gachagan Edited with Elliot Gachagan

I was in my early twenties when I resigned from my office job in the Civil Service. I left to study to become a primary school teacher, figuring that sitting behind a desk all day wasn’t for me!

Little did I know what was to come. I had a super career, enjoying the absolutely splendid kids that I was lucky enough to share the journey with. Teaching and living in London, Barcelona and eventually home, in my 30’s, to Glasgow.

So far, so good. The next part really was the happy ending. Fall in love with Allan and make the monumental decision that after many years of travelling and adventure I would settle down and have children. I had left it a bit late as my 30’s were whizzing past me. Late nights and partying were not easy to say goodbye to. But the time was now or never and we made it just in time, having the super fabulous Elliot! I was 38 years old and so excited. It was the beginning of a new and sensationally anticipated chapter. I had so much energy all of the time and how wonderful it would be to share it with my own bouncing baby boy.

That’s where the story changed forever. Enter Multiple Sclerosis. My immune system had attacked itself in error during the afterbirth process. My fairy tale story had turned rapidly into a dimmed dream. I still had the joys of my baby boy, but running parallel now with this giant of a disease and all that it brought with it. It was an unimaginable juxtaposition of emotions and practicalities. A very different story it would be. But one still full of all the screeching highs and uncomfortable lows that come with life itself.