My name is Lucie, I’m 31 years old and I’m the proud mum of a seven-year-old girl called Emma.

My story began sixteen years ago, when, as a thirteen-year-old girl, I found myself facing an unknown enemy. After almost a year of doctors treating me for everything under the sun, including polio, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2008. By that time, I was already bedridden and blind in one eye. The disease progressed rapidly, perhaps partly due to the stress of the misdiagnoses, and brought me to the point where I had to learn to walk again.

The first symptoms of the disease came in the form of unexpectedly tripping over my own feet; I gradually lost sensation in the entire left side of my body. As one of only eight children in the whole of the Czech Republic with this diagnosis, I found myself in a situation where the doctors themselves did not know how to treat us. Thanks to the courage of the doctors at the MS Centre on Karlovo náměstí in Prague, I became part of an experimental treatment that provided me with stability for a time.

 The year 2012 brought another twist – an allergy to interferon beta, which was a blow not only for me but also for the doctors, who were faced with the question of how to proceed. I went through a series of treatments, none of which worked as expected. And so began my journey full of challenges and obstacles. Some twenty attacks robbed me of sensation, sight and the ability to walk, but never of my determination. I learnt to fight. Every attack took something from me, but it never broke me.

Over the last four years, multiple sclerosis has hit me particularly hard. I lost sensation from the knees down and, gradually, my sight as well. Today, I have only 5% vision in my left eye and 20% in my right. The world I knew has been lost in the darkness. I have become a guide in an unknown world, where I find my way using my hands. Yet this loss has not robbed me of my desire to live and to share my story.

 I am a single parent to my daughter, and although I had to give up my job due to painful migraines and the loss of my sight, I decided not to give up. I decided to share my story, my experiences and my strength with others. I record podcasts about multiple sclerosis and mental health because I believe that stories hold power. When I received my diagnosis, I felt lost. Today I know that this diagnosis is not the end – it is the beginning of a transformation.

Multiple sclerosis has taught me to re-evaluate my life, understand my limits and redefine my values. Helping others with similar experiences has become my life’s mission. And although living with multiple sclerosis isn’t easy, I’m here to show that it’s possible to live life to the full – and that it’s possible to make something meaningful of it.

In November, I suffered another MS relapse, which robbed me of almost all my sight.

Before that, my vision in my right eye was perfectly fine and I could see about 30% in my left.

Today, the situation is completely different – I can only see about 5% in my left eye and roughly 15% in my right. I have no depth perception and am completely blind in the dark. To get around at all, I have to feel my way with my hands.

I live alone, which means I am dependent on my mum’s care; she has to look after me because my health otherwise prevents me from doing so myself.

Despite this drastic change in my health, I was told during the decision on my disability pension in August that my condition had not changed, which is completely absurd. Furthermore, the state refuses to grant me any allowance for care, mobility, or even a ZTP card, which would at least help with the cost of travelling to doctors – I currently spend almost 3,000 a month on travel alone.

A week ago, I submitted a new application for benefits with a fresh medical report, in which my doctor clearly states that in my current condition, working is very difficult for me, if not entirely impossible. Unfortunately, I had to lodge an appeal against the rejection of the other benefits.

For almost a year now, we have been living solely on sickness benefit, which is extremely difficult for me and my family.

Please help me get through this difficult period and secure the necessary funds for basic living expenses and care.

Any contribution that helps me with the costs of living, healthcare and mobility will be immensely valuable.

Why have we set a target of 460,800? The funds will be used for:

• Rent and utilities
• Home insurance, internet and telephone
• Journeys to Prague to see doctors 
• Medicines, therapy and rehabilitation
• Food and toiletries
• School canteen for Emma

Thank you to everyone who helps and becomes part of the Scattered Miracle…