Multiple Sclerosis greatly affects people’s mobility; Chrisma Badenhorst has had to adapt to life since her diagnosis, but she says: get the walker, use the scooter and keep living your life!
South Africa (13 April 2025) – In honour of the 75th year of Multiple Sclerosis South Africa raising awareness for the disease and providing support to people who have been affected, we meet Chrisma Badenhorst.
The incredible organisation is celebrating 75 years of raising awareness and support for South Africans with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). To honour those South Africans, we are delighted to highlight their inspiring stories as they face the unknown battles with their bodies to live life to the fullest.
The disease is still underrepresented in South Africa, but that is about to change! Multiple Sclerosis South Africa (MSSA) is raising the profile of the disease, offering support for families and raising funds to help make a difference. Their goal is to unite Africa and create a federation for the continent that will empower thousands of sufferers.
We hope to highlight many stories for their 75th anniversary: a diamond jubilee, so to speak. It is a celebration of all the gems who aim to make living with MS a little easier.
What is Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. It interrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and body. Symptoms can range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis.
Every case is proving unique, and the progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving closer to a world free of MS.
Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. MS is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system. Today, over 2,500,000 people around the world have MS.
There is so much more to the disease, which we have shared for World MS Day 2023 here.
Chrisma’s Take on Living with Multiple Sclerosis.
Chrisma dedicated her life to giving back. After graduating from university, she set her sights on making a difference and moved overseas to do mission work with her church. It was during this time that she met her husband, who also happened to be a South African.
The pair fell in love, got married and welcomed their son into the world seven years ago. Having been overseas for 21 years, when she fell ill, Chrisma and her husband decided it was time to return home. A year later, in 2020, Chrisma was diagnosed with Probable Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
The diagnosis came after a decade of feeling off balance and having unexplained symptoms. Chrisma shared that it was an emotional journey and has taken some of the things she has loved, like swimming, but also added so much more to her life in other ways.
The family settled in Sedgefield along the Garden Route, where Chrisma has been able to adapt. Sadly, she faces problems with her right leg and foot, which limit her ability to walk and keep balanced. It means she can no longer swim in the ocean, something she loved to do. She now uses a walker or mobility scooter to get around.
“I had to accept that I have MS and that I am not able to do what I used to do – I mourned the losses and grieved through many things – but for me MS is not a death sentence, I have too much to life for.”
Chrisma doubled down on her faith, drawing strength from her beliefs and using her story to connect with others.
“My faith, hope and trust has never been stronger in Jesus. I have so many opportunities to share my faith and encourage others. I don’t wish MS on anyone, it is a terrible debilitating illness, but my focus is on Jesus and that gives me the reason to get up every day.”
Every MS story is different, each person is limited in a different way and finds their own ways through the struggle. The one thing we have seen in every South African story we have shared to date is that MS teaches you to be strong, to believe in yourself and to live life to its fullest.
We asked Chrisma what advice she has for someone who is in the process of being diagnosed or has been diagnosed, and she has these gems to add:
“Don’t let the disease be you – change your mindset and say I am sick, but although my life has slowed down, I still have a difference to make in this world. How can I be used?”
For those who have reached the point where the disease limits your mobility, she encourages you to keep moving!
“Get a walker if you struggle to walk, get a mobility scooter and go and drink your cappuccino or visit a friend.
DON’T GIVE UP.REMEMBER – there will be bad days, acknowledge it and cry, but don’t get stuck.
ASK IF YOU NEED HELP!”
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