Closing MSSA’s 75th Anniversary MS Hero Series
As Multiple Sclerosis South Africa (MSSA) celebrates its 75th anniversary, we close this year’s MS Hero Series with a story that reminds us of resilience, grace, and the quiet courage found in everyday living.
Today we meet Arlene Aldawaimeh, our twelfth and final MS Hero of 2025. Over the past year, eleven South Africans have stepped forward to share their deeply personal journeys with Multiple Sclerosis. Together, they have helped dismantle misconceptions, challenged outdated stereotypes, and offered hope to thousands of families across the country. Arlene now joins this powerful collection of voices — and her story is a fitting finale.
MS remains underrepresented and often misunderstood in South Africa. But this is changing. MSSA continues to raise national awareness, support families navigating complex care pathways, and advocate for equitable access to treatment. Our heroes have played a vital role in this mission, creating a growing library of real-life experiences that newly diagnosed individuals can turn to for comfort, clarity, and connection.
As we round off our diamond jubilee celebrations, we extend our heartfelt thanks to every gem of a human who shared their journey with us this year.
Meet Arlene: The Woman Who Chooses to Start Each Day With a Smile
Arlene spent most of her adult life in the corporate world. Even after her MS diagnosis in 2013, she adapted, adjusted, and kept working through shifting demands in the workplace.
But after the pandemic, her physical abilities changed, and life asked her to pivot. At 54, Arlene embraced a new chapter — one that traded office commutes for a home-based role helping people plan the travel experiences of their dreams.
Travel has always been one of her great loves. She laughs when she says her camera bag was always heavier than her clothing bag. These days, travel is a little harder, but she hasn’t lost her connection to the world. Now she helps others explore it — and finds joy in helping them do so.
At home, Arlene has created a peaceful haven: a garden sanctuary filled with quiet corners where she can reconnect with nature. When she can’t be outdoors, she immerses herself in wildlife documentaries and engineering shows — small joys that have become part of her rhythm.
A Long Path to Diagnosis, and a New Way of Living
Arlene’s MS journey began long before her diagnosis. For two years, she experienced unexplained flares and strange symptoms. When her neurologist finally confirmed MS in November 2013, she felt relief. But she quickly learned that diagnosis is not the end — it’s the beginning of navigating a life shaped by highs, lows, adaptations, and choices.
“Aside from all the negative things, I don’t like to give them too much space in my life. MS has taken plenty — but it has also made me more sympathetic to others fighting their own battles.”
Her perspective shifted. She now chooses her battles carefully, finding strength in stepping away from conflict and choosing peace — something she once thought signalled weakness but now sees as a quiet act of self-preservation.
Her faith, she says, has been reignited. She no longer fears tomorrow.
“Whatever I have to deal with today, I won’t fear what comes next. And yes — I still plan to travel, to enjoy the wild, and to enjoy my life.”
The Ongoing Challenge: Finding the Right Support Team
Like many people living with MS, Arlene has found that one of her biggest challenges is accessing the right team to support her physical well-being.
“I’ve been searching for professionals who can help with specific physical exercises — muscle stimulation, core strengthening, targeted areas. I only wish I had started this earlier when I was still more mobile.”
This is a common reality across South Africa, where specialised MS-trained allied health support remains limited. Arlene’s story reflects the broader gaps MSSA continues to advocate around.
Arlene’s Message for Anyone Newly Diagnosed
Her advice is one of the most powerful messages in this year’s series:
“You are braver and stronger than you realise — more resilient than anyone will ever give you credit for.
When you feel like giving up, look back at what you’ve already overcome.
Reward yourself for the small victory’s others might not see, but that feel huge to us.
Choose to remember what that feels like.”
For Arlene, the hope is simple: she wants to be remembered for more than just having MS. She wants to be seen for the woman who chooses joy at the start of every day — even on the hard ones.
A Fitting End to Our Anniversary Year
Arlene’s story closes our 2025 MS Hero Series with exactly what this milestone year deserved:
honesty, courage, hope, and a reminder that life does not end with MS — it simply reshapes itself.
Her journey is a tribute to the human spirit and to every person who has walked alongside MSSA over 75 years.
Here’s to Arlene, and to every MS hero who shared their light with us this year.