Inspiring stories from our Hope Reborn volunteers

Created by Fabio D’Andrea in collaboration with actress Rose Leslie, Overcoming MS and the MS Society, Hope Reborn is a beautiful short film and music composition that depicts the challenges of life with MS. Alongside Rose, who plays the main character, volunteers from Overcoming MS and the MS Society also took part as extras. We spoke to some of our own volunteers who were extras in the final scene.

"Having a support group of positive people means everything"

As a member of the Hertfordshire Circle, Trai was invited to join the filming of the final scene in Hope Reborn. We spoke to her about the project and her Overcoming MS journey.

What made you want to be involved in the Hope Reborn project?

I thought the fact that a positive message could be channelled through music was a great idea! It’s such a creative way to shine a spotlight on a serious issue but in a really positive way.

Why do you think the Hope Reborn message is important?

It is so important for raising awareness, as well as encouraging people to have a positive approach to life and not give up. It spreads a message to people with MS that you should live life as much as you can and believe that you can still achieve small victories.

What does MS awareness mean for you personally?

Awareness is so important to me, as much of the time MS is an invisible illness, which makes it hard for people to understand the struggles someone may be having. I even struggle to understand it myself half the time and I have MS!

What was your favourite part of the filming day in London?

I love music, so just listening to the Hope Reborn composition while Fabio was playing the piano, and watching the fantastic dancers and choreography was fantastic. Meeting everyone else on set was fantastic too and so inspiring.

How did you find the Overcoming MS program and how has it helped you?

A friend recommended the book to me not long after I was diagnosed, and it made sense to me to give myself the best chance of fighting MS. To start with, I believe removing dairy from my diet has really improved my health.

Anyone diagnosed with MS should know there are options and choices they can make, to give themselves the best chance of living as healthily and positively as possible with this chronic disease. Having a support group of positive people through Overcoming MS also means everything.

"I thought I'd never dance again after diagnosis, but here I am still dancing!"

Maria is a member of the Hertfordshire Circle and discovered Overcoming MS shortly after her diagnosis. We spoke to her about Hope Reborn and her Overcoming MS journey.

What made you want to be involved in the Hope Reborn project?

I wanted to take part as a way to help others with MS feel that they are not alone. Hope Reborn will help those with MS to feel that there is hope for the future even with MS, and for people who aren’t living with MS, it will help them to understand how the condition affects people living with it.

What was your favourite part of the short film?

The dance scene really resonated with me and it was brilliant to be able to watch it being filmed. I particularly love the Hope Reborn story because I attend dance classes every week and I thought that I would never be able to dance again after diagnosis, but here I am four years later and still dancing! 

I used to be daunted by the word exercise, but it doesn’t mean you have to join a gym or run a marathon. It is important to do some form of movement or exercise every day and I find exercise just as beneficial as diet and meditation, they all work hand-in-hand together. I started by doing Pilates which strengthens the core and helps with building muscle strength and now I’ve found a lovely yoga teacher and practice once a week. I also attend an online MS-specific exercise class which is seated and helps with strength and stamina.

How would it help you if more people had a better awareness and understanding of MS?

Better MS awareness would help me personally because it will help others understand the impact of MS on my life. While I am getting along ok at the moment, it hasn’t always been this way. Initially, I was very fatigued, and in the past have suffered from optic neuritis, numbness, vertigo, brain fog and bladder urgency. It wasn’t always easy to explain everything that was going on inside my body to others.

How did you find the Overcoming MS program and how has it helped you?

When I was first diagnosed, I really didn’t know what my life would be like in the future. A friend gave me the Recovering from Multiple Sclerosis book and I read it cover to cover in a couple of days. I immediately ordered the Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis book and made changes to my life immediately. It gave me hope that my life was still worth living and I felt that I was now in control of my health.

Why do you think it’s important to raise awareness about the work Overcoming MS does?

I think it is very important to raise awareness of the work that Overcoming MS does because when I was newly diagnosed I felt lost and alone. Overcoming MS has shown me that life isn’t over just because of a diagnosis. Yes, changes to my lifestyle have happened but they are essential to help me live a normal life.

“There is no reason for anyone to struggle with this condition on their own”

Monica is an active member of the Hertfordshire Circle and co-Ambassador of the Progressive MS Circle. We spoke to her about her experience on the set of Hope Reborn and her Overcoming MS journey. 

What made you want to take part in the Hope Reborn project?

I didn’t know anything about it beforehand, but never having worked or been involved in the creative industries, I was keen to see a piece of art being created. Even better that it would tell the story of someone rising above the limitations imposed on them by MS, literally as it turned out.

Why do you think the Hope Reborn message is important for people with MS, and for those not affected by MS?

Music and dance can convey powerful ideas and can affect people in ways that the written or spoken word may not. Despair can be transformed into hope in the space of a few minutes. The Hope Reborn message could be the spark that someone needs to start reaching out for help, seeing that there is a way through, and that life could even be better than it was before.

What does MS awareness mean for you personally, and how would it help you if more people had a better awareness and understanding of MS?

People with MS struggle in all sorts of ways in daily life, often quietly and invisibly. When I enquired at my local leisure centre about membership, I mentioned my MS and I was surprised to be told that this qualified me for the GP referral scheme. This meant I could join at a reduced rate and with the help of an instructor, that was a huge help.

My MS also qualified me for a blue badge making getting to and from my car so much easier. The benefits system [in the UK] has some catching up to do as there seems to be a lack of MS awareness there. It is currently very difficult for people with MS to apply and be accepted for certain benefits. An MS diagnosis should be sufficient to remove many of the obstacles that are currently in the way.

How did you find the Overcoming MS program and how has it helped you?

When I first suspected I might have MS I started doing research online and I quickly realised that diet was an important factor in controlling the disease. I had been a vegetarian for a long time but realised that I needed to cut out dairy too so I moved to a largely plant based diet. Around this time I remembered a radio interview that I’d heard a few years earlier, about an Australian doctor who had found a way to manage his own MS. A quick google search led me to Professor George Jelinek and from there to the Overcoming MS website.

After reading Professor Jelinek’s book ‘Overcoming MS’ it all just made a lot of sense, and importantly there was a lot of evidence to support not just the diet but the whole program. I knew this was something I could follow for the rest of my life. It also crucially put me back in the driver’s seat, which was a huge confidence boost.

Why do you think it’s important to raise awareness about the work Overcoming MS does?

The realisation that someone has MS, be it at diagnosis or before, can be like a hammer blow, your world is suddenly turned upside-down and the future looks like a scary place. Once the shock has subsided knowing where to turn for help and guidance can save a lot of unnecessary heartache. Overcoming MS provides a complete program and a lot of support from other people with MS. There is no reason for anyone to struggle with this condition on their own.

Released in February 2023, the music composition and short film have reached thousands of people already, sharing a message of hope that despite the challenges living with MS can bring, there is always hope for a full and positive life with the condition. Watch the video here: Hope Reborn video

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