MS patient celebrates 40th birthday with family

Quinton, who celebrated his 40th birthday on September 9, has been fighting multiple sclerosis (MS) for several years and has been a permanent resident of the Rus-‘n-Bietjie Old Age Home in Springs for about a year-and-a-half.

“I have MS but it does not have me,” he says.

According to his wife Nerina (38), Quinton first first fell ill in 2004 but was only diagnosed with the disease in 2008.

Nerina explains she found it hard to cope in the beginning when he was placed in the frail care unit and she and her children moved from Springs to Nigel.

“He is also bipolar but we learned to live with it and we visit him at least three times a week,” she says.

Personnel of a well-known business in Springs recently contributed towards and purchased a wheelchair for Quinton.

Heidi Scheepers, one of the people who initiated the project, says Quinton is cared for by dedicated staff at the home.

“His mother, Petro (60) is his pillar of strength and this devoted mom visits and cares for him every day,” says Heidi.

Petro supplies Quinton with much-needed supplements, including magnesium supplements, inflammation tablets, digestive enzymes and many others he needs.

The group of personnel met Quinton on Mandela Day and they say he touched their hearts.

They decided Quinton needed a wheelchair to get him mobile as his muscles are deteriorating.

“The sunlight could also do him good,” Heidi says.

The group managed to collect enough money for a wheelchair as well as a month’s supply of supplements.

Quinton shares a birthday with his daughter Demarize (10) and the pair celebrated together last Wednesday.He also has a son, Zander, who is 13 years old.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that can affect the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves in the eyes.

It can cause problems with vision, balance, muscle control and other basic body functions.

Heidi explains that some people have mild symptoms and do not need intense treatment, while others will have trouble getting around and doing daily tasks.

MS takes place when the immune system attacks a fatty material called myelin, which wraps around the nerve fibres to protect them.

Without this outer shell, the nerves become damaged and scar tissue may form.

This damage means the brain can’t send signals through to the body correctly.

Symptoms may include:

• Trouble walking
• Feeling tired
• Muscle weakness or spasms
• Blurred or double vision
• Numbness and tingling
• Sexual problems
• Poor bladder or bowel control
• Pain
• Depression
• Problems focusing or remembering