What do you do when your life is interrupted by multiple sclerosis—at just 22?
At first, you survive. You don’t share the diagnosis with your workplace, worried it might impact your career trajectory.
You hold tightly to the life you thought you'd have. You keep working, pushing through symptoms, avoiding time off unless absolutely necessary.
You’re angry—not just at the diagnosis, but at the fact that it’s getting in the way of the career you’d carefully planned.
But holding on that tightly doesn’t do your health any favours. Eventually, you crash.
For me, that meant months in hospital—paralysed physically and emotionally. I experienced a disorienting disconnect between my mind and body. I remember focusing all my energy on trying to wriggle my toes, move my legs—confused that they wouldn’t respond.
The nights were the worst. Wide awake, petrified that I would be dependent on others for basic functioning, possibly forever. It was in that space that I finally asked myself the question:
Is this career worth getting sick for?
No. Absolutely not.
Even though I loved my time at Telstra—being part of their graduate program, receiving promotions, and having a clear succession plan in corporate training and development—none of it was worth jeopardising my health.
The A-Ha Moment
Those crystal-clear moments—what Oprah would call “a-ha” moments—feel like a gift when they arrive in your twenties.
From that point on, I began consciously rebuilding a life that supported my health. A life that was conducive to my wellbeing, not working against it.
That decision saw me leave my corporate career. I travelled overseas, then returned to university to study social work.
But my new career—working in emergency housing—brought a different kind of challenge. I took on the stress of those experiencing homelessness, navigating a broken system where making a positive impact required more energy than MS could give me.
Different career. Same outcome. More relapses. More hospital stays. More reflection—and another difficult decision to walk away from a job I cared deeply about.
Because once again, my career wasn’t worth getting sick for.
But here’s the thing—those decisions were made over 15 years ago.
Back then I believed that prioritising my health and wellbeing was my responsibility alone. That it was up to me to be flexible and innovative—not my workplace.
The Irony in this Story
I haven’t had an MS relapse since 2012. For over a decade now, my MRIs have shown no new disease activity.
That doesn’t mean the life has been easy—but there is a striking irony. The people who’ve helped me stay well—doctors, nurses, allied health professionals—are now the ones burning out.
They’re exhausted. Overworked. Often unsupported. Carrying the emotional and physical load for others, while sacrificing their own wellbeing.
That’s what makes this moment so urgent. Because while my strategy years ago was to walk away from careers that harmed my health, that shouldn’t be the only option today.
We know better now. We can do better—for the people who give so much of themselves every day.
A Message to Managers
If you're leading a team—especially in health, disability, or aged care—don’t wait for rock bottom to trigger change.
What MS has taught me is simple but powerful: to live well, you have to be proactive. Every decision I make is filtered through one question: Is this conducive to my wellbeing?
And the truth is, that mindset doesn’t just apply to individuals. It applies to how we lead, how we support our teams, and how we build workplaces that value people—not just the clients we serve, but also the staff who make that care possible.
Let’s Reflect
Have you ever had a moment that made you question whether your work was costing you too much?
I’d love to hear how you navigated it—whether as a professional or someone on your own health journey. I know LinkedIn can be a space where we don’t often open up, so please feel free to message me.
Want to Support your own Wellbeing?
If you’re a health, disability, or care professional feeling stretched thin—or simply want to take proactive steps to protect your wellbeing—you’re not alone.
Frontline Healthcare Wellbeing is a live online session I created specifically for people like you. It’s grounded in lived experience, mindset strategies, and practical tools to help you support others without burning yourself out in the process.
Want to Support the Wellbeing of your Workforce?
If you're a leader or manager looking to support your team in a meaningful way, let’s chat.
📩 Send me a message and we can explore what that might look like.
Teisha Founder, Hurdle2Hope®
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