A Towy Valley woman has opened up living with Multiple Sclerosis over the past 20 years.

Gemma Williams, from Llanddeusant, was diagnosed with the condition just after her 21st birthday over two decades ago.

The mother-of-two told The Guardian: “MS can have a devastating impact on people's lives interfering with their ability to work and care for their families.

“MS impacts on pretty much everything you do. It impacts on your memory, ability to think, the function of your limbs, it impairs walking, it may affect your vision, can trigger anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, cause bladder problems, balance issues and any neurological function you can think of is potentially affected by MS.

“Not long after my 21st birthday I found myself in hospital with lack of feeling and weakness from the chest down.

“In the end a remitting and relapsing MS diagnosis was made, at that time the only treatment available was a course of steroids.

“My prognosis was I’d continue to have relapses followed by periods of remission, overtime becoming more disabled and by the time I was in my 40’s my MS would most like have become secondary progressive meaning I’d no longer have periods of remission.”

Gemma suffered yearly debilitating relapses but then disease modifying drugs became available which slowed down the relapses.

She even went two years without a relapse until they stopped working.

“MS reared its ugly head once more,” said the 41-year-old.

“I suffered three relapses in one year leaving me with great difficulty walking, limited sight in one eye and other neurological problems.

“Thankfully another treatment, Tysabri, had just become available which I qualified for and I began immediately.

“It is administered monthly intravenously in hospital, forcing me to finally face up to my needle phobia.

“I’ve now been on Tysabri for over seven years and during this time have not had a full-blown relapse, instead only mild flare ups, usually following a cold.

“Damage from past replaces still causes me problems although I’ve recovered my sight and my walking has improved.

Gemma has always been passionate about horses and she has always dreamed about raising a foal and training it.

She said: “Before ending up in hospital age 21, I’d purchased a Welsh Section D colt with the aim of realising a long-held dream of mine

“Unfortunately, MS crushed this dream and after struggling on for a few years, it was with a heavy heart I sold my cob.

“I inherited a little pony who would take me about the farm as I was unable to walk far or use the quad bike.

“During a relapse when I wasn't able to ride, and it was looking likely I might not ever again, I had the pony broken to harness so I could drive instead.

“Thankfully I did recovery enough to be able to ride.

“With a twist of fate I acquired a Welsh Section D filly and with lots of help was able to be involved in her training.

“My dream did happen only not in the way I planned it.

“Eight years on, I have the little pony and my cob, enjoying using them around the farm and this year have I’ve begun experimenting with what I can and can't do physically while riding. “My ultimate goal would be to teach my cob showjumping, something I’ve not done since MS struck, a big ask but who knows, I didn't expect to be this well with my MS 20 years on.”

With Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week taking place from April 22 until 28, Gemma wanted to share her story.

“If anyone is struggling with MS, hang in there and don't give up hope,” she said.

“Today might be a bad day but it doesn't mean tomorrow will be and you don't know what the future holds.

“It is possible to live well with MS which is what I have been doing for last 20 years.

“I live on a working hill farm with my husband and two teenage sons.”

Gemma along with a friend, who also lives with a chronic illness, will be in Coop Llandovery on Tuesday April 23 from 10.30 until 4pm with an MS information stand.

For more information call the MS Trust on 08000323839.