29. Hurdle2Hope Stories: Meet Leah Alstin - Living With FA

Does accepting the reality of your illness now mean giving up hope for your future?

Join us for another compelling Hurdle2Hope®️ Story as I chat with Leah Alstin, who navigates life with Friedreich's Ataxia (FA). In this episode, Leah opens up about her daily challenges and wins, offering insights into how acceptance can coexist with hope. 

We discuss how FA impacts Leah's life, the support she finds in her family, and her active role in advocacy, providing a rich perspective on living with a neuromuscular condition.

Like Leah, I have learned the crucial balance between accepting the present challenges of MS and stage 4 breast cancer and maintaining hope for my future. This conversation serves as a powerful reminder of our capacity to live fully and richly despite our circumstances.

If you LOVED the episode, make sure you share this on your Instagram stories and tag us @hurdle2hope and @being_leah.

KEY EPISODE TAKEAWAYS:

• Understanding Friedreich's Ataxia: Leah offers an insightful explanation of Friedreich's Ataxia, detailing its impact as a genetic neuromuscular disorder and its progression over time.

• Adapting to Physical Changes: Leah discusses how she has adapted to the physical challenges of FA, including the acceptance and use of mobility aids like walkers and wheelchairs to maintain her independence and safety.

• Family Dynamics and Normalisation: Leah's children view the adaptations and challenges presented by her condition as normal, reflecting the supportive and adaptive environment within their family.

• Advocacy and Community Engagement: Leah is actively involved in raising awareness about Friedreich's Ataxia, participating in community events and initiatives as an ambassador, which helps educate others and support those newly diagnosed.

• Living with Hope and Resilience: Despite the uncertainties of FA, Leah maintains a hopeful outlook, focusing on living a fulfilling life and embracing future possibilities, which inspires others in similar situations.

SHOW RESOURCES

• Podcast Website: Wellbeing Interrupted
• Leah's Instagram Page @being_leah
• Teisha's Instagram @hurdle2hope
• Hurdle2Hope Newsletter hurdle2hope.com/newsletter

Unexpected hurdles interrupt all of our lives. It is how you respond that will define your experience.

To find out how Hurdle2Hope can support you or your organisation please visit hurdle2hope.com.

I would love to connect with you, Teisha.

Also, are you following @hurdle2hope on social media... I would love to see you there!

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Transcript

Wellbeing Interrupted Episode 29

Hurdle2Hope®️ Stories: Meet Leah Alstin Living with FA

Host Teisha Rose

Teisha: [00:00:00] Hey there, Teisha here, and welcome to episode 29 of Wellbeing Interrupted. I hope you've had a great week. I've had a really good week actually, um, of getting a lot done on my business. I've started with a new VA, so I'll chat about that another time, but that has really freed me up and enabled me to also prioritise my wellbeing a little bit more, so that's a big win.

And, uh, today's episode, I've been really excited about sharing. A couple of weeks ago, I interviewed Leah Alstin. Leah is an incredible woman, and I've been watching Leah's story from afar, following her on Instagram. We also share the same physiotherapist in Claire. And, um, Yeah, I was really eager to have Leah [00:01:00] on because these Hurdle2Hope stories are so important to, I guess, get to know other people who are living with health conditions.

Leah, like myself, has a neurological condition. It's called FA. I'll let Leah explain about that a little bit more. But, yeah, her story She lives such a full life, Leah,

and I won't say too much more because we had a great conversation and you'll learn all about Leah by listening to this episode and I'll chat to you at the end.

Wellbeing Interrupted Intro

Welcome to Wellbeing Interrupted, the podcast dedicated to exploring the transformative power of a healing mindset. I'm Teisha Rose, your host. [00:02:00] and the founder of Hurdle2Hope®️. If you're on a quest to not just survive but thrive after a life changing diagnosis, then you're definitely in the right place.

Living with MS and now stage 4 breast cancer has taught me a vital lesson. In the face of a life changing illness, our mindset is Everything. Each week I'll share insights, tips and strategies to help you build a happier, healthier, more balanced life. So let's begin your journey from hurdle to hope starting right now.

Interview with Leah

Teisha: Okay, so really excited today. I'm finally meeting face to face Leah. So I've been following Leah on Instagram for a long time. I've Also, I have the same physio as Leah. So, you know, there's that connection as well. Um, so Leah is another incredible [00:03:00] person and another Hurdle2Hope story that I really want to share with you.

And yeah, so welcome Leah. 

Leah: Thank you. Thanks for having me. 

Teisha: You are welcome. It's very exciting. So I think, and I'm, um, what, we'll first sort of start off with, you know, there's a reason as well as you've been just such a beautiful person. There's a reason you are here, um, because you are living with a neurological condition.

Um, but not ms like I have and I always have problems. Um, and pronouncing the name. So I say you are living with FA. So can you 

Leah: That's what I say because I can't pronounce it either. . . 

Teisha: So do you want to try ? 

Leah: So I've got, um, Friedrichs ataxia. Or FA, as I call it. 

Teisha: Yep. Okay. And so can you explain what that is?

Leah: Yes, [00:04:00] I can try . So, um, Fredrik ataxia is a genetic neuromuscular progressive condition or disorder, or disease, whatever you prefer. Mm-Hmm. . So, uh, yeah. Do you want me to go on with my, my diagnosis of it?

Teisha: Yeah, that'd be great. Because look, I'm exactly the same. I know that MS. And I always stuff, you know, multiple sclerosis.

I can't say either. And then I have really issues explaining it. I just say, yeah, it's of the nervous system. My nerves don't fire properly. Then sometimes I can't walk, you know, so that's my explanation. So yeah. So when were you diagnosed with FA, um, to start with, and I guess how did that impact your life early on?

Leah: Yep. So I was diagnosed with FA when I was 17, so [00:05:00] 24 years ago. I'm 41 now. So yeah, 24. Years ago. So the end of year 12. Um, so during year 12, Maybe year 11 as well, I was feeling a little bit unsteady on my feet. So in particular, walking up and down stairs. So at my high school, it was like three stories high.

So I had to walk up and down stairs all day. And I always had to hold on to a rail, um, to feel safe. So, I told mum and mum thought that maybe I had an ear infection, which was quite common and easy. So she took me to the GP and luckily my GP was quite thorough. And [00:06:00] he, um, noticed that there were a few things that didn't look right, um, neurologically, um, so he referred me on to a neurologist and then after I completed lots of different tests, Which I'm sure you've been through.

So nerve tests and I don't know, 5 million tests. Eventually they tested my DNA and it came back as FA. 

Teisha: yeah. That's huge. And that's so young too. I was 22 processing that with MS. And, but 17, that like, that's the next level, you know, you're still in school and all. So how did you cope with that?

Leah: Well, I guess at the beginning I went straight into denial. So I just pretended that [00:07:00] I wasn't there, which I think was a good thing. I don't think the process was bad. Um, I had applied for uni in Geelong because I was from Ballarat. So I'd applied for uni, I was moving out of home, doing all that stuff. So I just kept on going.

And yeah, I just pretended that it wasn't there. I think I went to the FA clinic in Melbourne once. And I soon realised that I didn't like it. So I didn't go back for about 10 years. So I just kept going with life really. Didn't deal with it at all. 

Teisha: Yeah. But I mean, as you say, there's no right or wrong, you know, as to how to respond to that.

And that's worked for you in terms of, so your twenties were pretty good, you know, 

Leah: They were, [00:08:00] and I look back on it and I don't regret any of it, the way I dealt with it, like I, it did not stop me from doing anything. I still went out every weekend during uni and drank alcohol and did all that crazy stuff and ate really bad food and partied way too much and yeah, and I don't regret any of it. 

Teisha: No, so at uni, so share with us, what did you study and then what did you begin your career in? 

Leah: Yeah, so I studied primary school teaching, so I'm a teacher, well I used to be, um, I finished uni and then went straight into grade 1/2. So I taught them for a few years and then I taught correction and then I got married and had my own kids.

So I didn't teach anymore. A

Teisha: okay. [00:09:00] Okay. And so you've got two children and a beautiful husband. 

Leah: Yep. So I got married quite young. So I met Joel when I was 21. And we got married at 25, and then had Mila, my daughter, at 26, and then Chad at 28. So yeah, Mila's 15 now, and Chad's nearly 13. 

Teisha: Okay. And so how did that impact FA? Like having your children and during that time, because I'm, I don't have children, but I'm assuming that would be exhausting, um, during that time.

Leah: It was exhausting and I guess, so during my pregnancy with Mila, I was still trying to be really, really strong, like physically strong, but I was so tired [00:10:00] and so I ended up having Mila at 28 weeks, which was way too early.

So 12 weeks early, which was way too early. And I look back on it now and maybe that happened because I was trying so hard to go to the gym every single day for FA to stay strong. And I was working full time and I just overdid it. And yeah, so Mila was born really early and very unwell, but we got through that.

So yeah, having, having kids and my condition is tricky, I guess, but it's what, I don't know. It was my normal. 

Teisha: So, yeah, that's great. And in terms of then, Joel, like he knew you had your, you know, FA when you met. So how did that impact things? 

Leah: Um, so yeah, Joel knew [00:11:00] when we first got together, which was great, um, Because my condition is genetic, there is a chance that, or there was a chance that if I had kids, they'd have it as well.

So my mum and dad both carry the FA gene and then there's a one in four chance that your kids will have the condition. So I got it, whereas my siblings don't have it. Um, so when I met Joel, he was tested for the gene. I wanted him to be tested and thank goodness he doesn't carry it. So that means that our kids can't have FA.

So that means that when they're old enough to have partners and if they want to have kids, they might get their partner checked for [00:12:00] that gene. So 1 in 100 people are carriers. So it's really common to be a carrier. 

Teisha: Yeah. It's amazing, isn't it? Because I'd never heard of it until I came across you.

Leah: Yeah. So that is common.

Teisha: So now, um, you said, you know, FA is the norm, you know, in your household. So how does it impact life now? So, you know, your day to day.

Leah: So, yeah. I guess, so it has gotten worse. Um, so from the age of 17 till about, I'd say 23, there weren't really many symptoms. Then, when I got married, I was struggling to walk a little bit, like walking down the aisle, I made sure I held on to my mum really, really tight.

Um, and, um. And then when I had the [00:13:00] kids, I relied on their pram a lot, which was great because I was still in denial. So I was like, Oh no, there's nothing wrong. I'm just holding on to a pram a lot. Um, and then, so when I was 30, I broke my ankle and that was like the game changer in my life. So, I realised that there was something going on, or I didn't realize, I accepted that there was something else going on and I needed a bit of help.

And so, at 30 is when I started using a walking frame. I still use one now a lot, but now, so I also use a wheelchair at home. Not all the time. Um, and I could choose not to, but [00:14:00] it makes my life easier and I can get things done. So, yeah. I can get the washing done and make the beds and, you know, change the bin bag and do all those things really quick.

Whereas if I'm walking, it takes forever and it's a bit unsafe. Um, so yeah, day to day, I'd say FAA affects everything I do. 

Teisha: Yeah. Yeah. So there's no escaping that. And how, how do the kids cope with that? 

Leah: Yeah, so again, it's the kids normal. They're used to this. Um, it's the way their mum is and it's the way I've always been, so I never, yeah, when my son was a lot younger, when he was about five, he saw someone walking in the street and they must have had a particular walk.

And he said, mum, why aren't they using a walking [00:15:00] frame? Like he thought it was strange that people didn't use them. 

Teisha: Yeah, that's great. 

Leah: Um, and even now, like if we go, like if we're in Melbourne in the city shopping or something, my son will always hold on to me in my scooter. Like he'll have his hand on my shoulder or something.

Like it's just their normal, and I'm their mum. 

Teisha: Yeah, that's great. And that's a lot to do with you as well, because you're still doing so much, like following you and I'll do all the links later on on Instagram. You're out and about and doing so much. And I guess the walking aids and all enable that. 

Leah: Yeah, they do.

And yeah, I use my little scooter when I'm out and Yeah, it does. It allows me to do so much, like go shopping and go to different events. And yeah, I love it. [00:16:00] 

Teisha: Yeah, no, that's good. And have you struggled? Because I certainly did, you know, trying to use a walker. I was like, nope, nope. And we've got the same physio.

So I said to Claire, you find a really nice looking one, I'll use it. And then she's like, I've got one the next week. So yeah, was that a struggle for you as well? 

Leah: Oh yeah, big time. Oh my goodness. That was one of the hardest things and it still is like I'm a little bit better now with walkers, but I'm more about safety now.

So I'm using this horrendous walker and it's not my ideal colour scheme or anything, but it's very safe. So I'm good with that, but I've got this wheelchair now that I'm using inside and it's so big. And it's safe and it does what I need and it's [00:17:00] amazing. I, uh, yeah, I shouldn't be saying it's too big because I'm very lucky to have this kind of thing provided for me, but it's so big.

I just want something that's kind of small, so people see me and not the wheelchair. 

Teisha: Yeah, that's so true. 

Leah: Yeah, I struggle. 

Teisha: Yeah. Yeah. And I think, um, I did, uh, it must've been, it was a few months ago and you were just in the chair and all, and you were saying, you know, you feel embarrassed and I just looked at you and you're so gorgeous.

And that just broke my heart because I was like, that's awful that we should feel like that. Um, but it's natural, you know, that's not your fault. And I think we do, you become self conscious as well. You know, and you worry that people are looking, they're probably not. They're probably checking out, Leah's got great dress sense.

She always has really cool outfits on. So they're probably checking out what nice dress you're wearing. [00:18:00] 

Leah: People are more worried about themselves, to be honest. Like people are more worried about how they look and how they appear and what they're doing rather than what someone else is doing. But yeah, you can tell yourself that five million times, but yeah, it's hard.

Teisha: Yeah, it is. And even seeing your reflection sometimes, you walk past the shop and I see a reflection and I'm like, who's that? My hair going grey now and I'm trying to embrace that.

Leah: You're still hiding it better. 

Teisha: I said to the, um, nurses, on a tangent here, but when I was being wheeled in to get my mastectomies, I said, “This has been an easy decision to cut my boobs off compared to embracing my grey.” We were laughing as I was being wheeled in. But yeah, that, um, reflection in the mirror, sometimes you think, Oh my goodness, that's me.

And it's like, but it's not, as we said, you [00:19:00] know, you're not your, um, scooter or your walker or, you know, wheelchair, you're you. And that's what we've really. Part of this show, I really want to highlight Hurdle2Hope's stories, showing that we're all people, you know, we just have different conditions, doesn't change who we are, it actually probably adds to who we are, um, and is so much more than FA.

Teisha: But I guess, do you sometimes struggle now that we're getting older, we've both lived more than half our lives with our conditions. So do you sometimes forget what life was like before it? 

Leah: Yeah, I, I think I have forgotten, to be honest. Um, yeah, I can't remember what it feels like to walk or run.

I can walk, but it's not easy. Um, Yeah, I [00:20:00] think I have forgotten. And sometimes I think maybe that's easier. Although I still dream like at night, even last night I dreamt and I was walking in my dream. 

Teisha: Wow. 

Leah: So that's really weird. 

Teisha: Yeah, it is. It is. That is. But, um, yeah, let's see if we can translate it to real life.

You know, so that is, 

And in terms of you do so much, sometimes living with these conditions, it's like a job in itself. So you're very proactive in terms of trying to stay well. Um, so what type of things do you do? 

Leah: Um, so, ever since I was diagnosed, When I was 17, I've been going to a gym. So I've done that forever.

So I go to the gym twice a week. Um, and [00:21:00] nowadays I have a physio with me. So she guides my exercises and obviously we do ones that are more specific to what I need. Um, I also have neurophysio with the same physio twice a week. Um, and I've been seeing her for like years and years, so she knows me.

And I also have osteo once a week. Um, I feel that my walking, my style of walking, makes my body out of alignment, so I like to realign myself, relieve some aches and pains. I get really bad headaches and I think it's maybe because I hold on to a walking frame so tight when I walk because I'm scared of falling over.

So he relieves my headaches. Um, [00:22:00] yeah, they're the main things I do. I mix it up every now and then, like I, I do hydrotherapy for a bit, but then realize it's too cold. 

Teisha: It is. I've never do it.  I just find it too exhausting getting to the pool and getting like, it's just, Oh, it's such a process. 

Leah: Yeah, it's exhausting.

Teisha: But, um, yeah, it's just, it is so much to do, but it's worth it. Isn't it? You know, just in terms of, and I think too, do you find this, that if you are doing things, it feels better than not, like participating in that process really helps. 

Leah: Yeah, and, oh yeah, like I've, I've had a week off because I've been away.

Um, and I was so down in myself because I wasn't doing much. [00:23:00] Whereas today I've already been to the gym and I've been to the osteo and I feel so much better in myself. 

Teisha: Yeah. And actually that's all of a sudden it went out of my head what else I was going to ask, but the whole thing about falls, I think sometimes we talk about it and you know, we're a falls risk, but I've started to have some falls and that's why I've used, you know, the walker, especially where we are, there's rocks everywhere and all, it's just not worth the risk.

But do you find, like I, I'm always scared and I'm always holding my body so tensely the same because I'm scared now of falling, like I hate that feeling and then I'm just anticipating for that. So it's something that you can't then escape. Do you find that? 

Leah: Yeah, yeah. Um, I guess I'm probably a little bit more used to falling than you, so I've been falling over for a long time.[00:24:00] I feel now that I've almost learned how to fall over. 

Teisha: Okay. 

Leah: Yeah. I kind of roll into it. , sounds funny. And um, yeah, I don't know. I just, but yeah, it's scary and I guess that's part of the reason why I use my wheelchair more and more often, because it allows me to do stuff without thinking about it. 

Teisha: Yeah. Yeah. Because it does, it tenses up your body and you don't enjoy what you're doing and you're looking at the ground and it's so disgusting looking down. 

Leah: Oh, I'm always looking at the ground. It's so annoying. 

Teisha: Yeah. Um, and the other thing I just wanted to touch on as well, because we've also had this shared experience, my speech went, you know, for, for a year, I, I was going to do this podcast a year or so ago, but I couldn't, I literally lost my voice, the muscle above [00:25:00] my voice box seized up.

They think through the trauma of everything that happened. So I couldn't get more than a couple of words out. And now. I still struggle, like I don't sound like me or like I, it's just, yeah, so it goes. 

Leah: I think you sound absolutely amazing. I thought you were going to say, I don't sound different. You sound so good.

Oh, thank you. Because I do, I do all my exercises. I see a speech therapist and everything. And some days it's not good, other days, but I'm being understood. But my goodness, what an eye opening experience not being able to talk. It was horrendous how I was treated like at shops and stuff.

There was this assumption about cognitively what I was like as well. So has FA impacted your speech as well? 

Leah: Yes, it has.  So I don't really know exactly what it does, but I'm assuming it affects the muscles or [00:26:00] something or the, I don't know, but I definitely speak slower because I need to make sure I really articulate words and sounds.

And otherwise everyone says, what, what, what, what to say. And then. It's hard. Um, and yeah, it is meant to get worse as I get older. So that's, that's scary. And my voice was one thing, or my speech was one thing that, I don't know, I guess I was really, really paranoid about it for a long time. Maybe in denial, I found that harder to accept than the walking ability.

Um, but I don't know, at the moment, I'm [00:27:00] okay with that. Like I speak slowly, but I don't know. 

Teisha: You're so clear. Yeah, it's easy, very easy to understand. 

Leah: But I find I struggle to keep up with people's conversations. So if I go out for dinner with a group of girls, I'll, I'd rather sit there and listen rather than join the conversation because they talk so fast. I can't keep up. 

Teisha: Yeah, yeah. And I think, yeah, and that's what my speech therapist, I said, she listens, she'll be listening to this episode to them and, you know, critiques and she's like, you're talking so fast. And I do naturally. So I'm trying to bring it back. Um, so it's not straining my muscles as much, but yeah, it's hard.

And it nearly broke me. My, like, I'd been through so much with the cancer and, you know, MS and stuff, [00:28:00] but it was like the last straw when the voice went, I was like, are you serious? Like, what else? So it is hard. 

Leah: Yeah. It's really, really tough. Now I was going to then sort of talk about, because you do so much in the space of creating awareness for FA, um, which is amazing because I certainly don't do that.

Um, you know, with FA, like I try and do stuff.

Leah: Yes, you do. 

Teisha: I wrote my book and stuff, so I guess.

Leah: Yeah, well, I think so. 

Teisha: But not at the level you do. Um, So we'll talk about that a bit, but I guess too, you know, us talking about being defined by our illness, do you sometimes find that hard? Like you're immersed in the FA world, so you then try to separate yourself a little bit like that? Do you find that difficult?  

Leah: I do, um, but I find [00:29:00] this a hard one. Like, people say you can't be defined by your illness, but in a way, I kind of am and I have no choice. And it's not a bad thing. Like, I'm okay with that. But everything I do, Oh, not everything, but most things are related to FA or I've got to think about FA or like, I don't know, cooking dinner.

Of course, it's going to be something to do with FA because I've got to modify everything to make it able to make myself able. And I don't know, I literally like, yeah, I find it really hard. This one, I think, um, you know, I can go on holidays and [00:30:00] stuff, but FA comes with me. So I can't separate, you know, the holiday and FA because it's right there. It's worse when I'm on holiday because it's in an unfamiliar space. 

Teisha: Yeah, that's true. That's true. And you're right. You're right. I think sometimes It's reminding ourselves that there's other parts of ourselves. So yes, I live with MS. Yes, I live with cancer, but there's also other roles I play. There's other qualities I have.

Leah: Yeah. Yeah. And yeah, you're right with that. Yeah. 

Teisha: Yeah. And in terms of then what you do, like I see on Instagram, there's different events on, and there's, you know, different things that you do to create awareness, which is so important because, um, yeah. Not so common. You know, you said one in 100 people carry the gene, so it, it is out there.

Um, but lots of people [00:31:00] don’t know about it. So yeah. What are some of those events that you are involved in? 

Leah: Um, so I'm in FA Ambassador, so for Farah, which is Friedrich's Ataxia Research Association. So I am an ambassador for them along with like five other people. We kind of help organize events, whether that be a gala ball or a walk or a ride or a campaign for something or I don't know.

Um, we also put ourselves out there to be able to be contacted by newly diagnosed patients. Um, so we provide our phone number, email address, everything to our doctors. So if there is a young girl, like 10 year old girl that's diagnosed, her mum or dad [00:32:00] might want to reach out and chat with us, or she might want to.

So I do a lot of that. Um, uh, I've got, yeah, I've got a brand myself that I created and, you know, Raised awareness for FA, raised about $25, 000. So that was good. 

Teisha: That's amazing, Leah. So what was that? Was that the drink? 

Leah: Yeah, so it was Reusable Coffee Cups and Drink Bottles. So I guess it all started because I love getting a takeaway coffee, but I always spill it.

So I wanted to, so I designed a cup that wouldn't spill and they wouldn't spill when I drank it because I found that a lot of reusable cups, they look really pretty, but every time you drink out of it, they spill and dribble and whatever. So I designed a cup [00:33:00] that was user friendly and $5 from the sale of each one went to FA research.

Teisha: Wow, that's amazing. That's, that's huge. That's huge. And so how did you then, like, with no longer teaching and all, does that ever frustrate you that that's had an impact? Like, how do you cope with that? 

Leah: Yeah, so, um, I, I guess I stopped teaching when I had the kids, but then I wanted to go back. So I went back and did some emergency teaching work, and I found it to be really hard, as in physically hard, but just exhausting.

So I would teach for one day and I was so tired I could barely even see out of my eyes. So that's a symptom of FA as well is major [00:34:00] fatigue. 

Teisha: Okay. 

Leah: Um, yeah, so I decided on my own terms that I would retire from teaching. So I never wanted someone to say to me, You can't teach anymore. So I'm like, okay, before that happens, I'm going to retire myself.

So I'm okay with that. So I'm a retired teacher. I hope they gave you a big package. 

Leah: no. 

Teisha: No, that's good. And that's, that's very empowering, isn't it? You've made the decision. You haven't been, you know, As you said, asked to leave. So that's really good. And gosh, your life is very full and it's all about prioritising our wellbeing, you know, and that means big changes.

And a lot of people listening, we do have to change our careers. I mean, I started working at Telstra in Melbourne head [00:35:00] office. I was, you know, travelling all the time. I was living in South Bank, life's so different, but you sort of go with it and think, well, how do I support myself financially, but still prioritise my wellbeing.

So you've done that, which is really good. So, and you mentioned, you know, that life, you know, the, your condition FA is progressive. So how do you process that? We're both here, sitting here, living with unknown futures, you know, and that is scary. So how do you, you know, cope with that? 

Leah: Yeah. Um, so yeah, I guess it is a bit scary thinking about, but I always say to people, I've accepted FA.

That doesn't mean I've given up or given up hope. So I've accepted that I need to deal with it. That's the way it is, whatever. But I [00:36:00] will keep trying new things, keep doing everything I can do, and to be honest, I feel so healthy. So I, I can't walk very well, that's all right. Um, yeah, I, I feel great, and I feel like my life is just gonna keep going.

I don't know. Keep being amazing. I don't know.

Teisha: Leah, that is so good. I'm like, big smile and nodding, nodding, nodding, because that's what I talk about. Like, accept what is now, but don't give up hope for the future because we don't know what that future is. So, and that's what MS taught me. And I'm bringing that to the table with stage four breast cancer.

I'm not looking at the statistics. I'm like, right, you know, I've got it. I need to get rid of my boobs. I need to though, stay healthy, do everything I can that's in my control. And then we'll [00:37:00] see what happens. So I love it. That's great. 

Leah: And there's, there's so much research being done. And I always say that if there's a cure for FA, then great, but if there isn't, that's okay too. If there's little treatments along the way, I don't care if I've got FA. If I can treat their symptoms, whatever. 

Teisha: Yeah, no, that's great. That's great. And, and we don't know, and that's why we do have to go from hurdle to hope. You can be my brand ambassador as well, because that's exactly what it is.

And, you know, and I think regardless of people listening and they don't have a health condition, but they're in a, crappy position at the moment, you know, deal with that and accept the reality of that, but don't give up hope for the future. However that is going to [00:38:00] be, you'll still be able to cope with it.

And you could be attracting really amazing experiences. And so what's on the agenda for you, so have you got any more exciting projects or like are you doing more of your social media stuff? I noticed that you were, were you working with people with social media? 

Leah: Yeah, it's my managing different, um, Business’ social media, because that's really flexible and it's something I can do at home or in the car when I'm waiting for the kids at school.

Um, something very exciting is not really to do with work, but we are going to Japan in September. Wow. So yeah, that's really big for me. So, um, I, I'm a bit scared of holidays cause I, I don't know, it's just a major process going on the [00:39:00] aeroplane and having a wheelchair and all. Yeah. Well, we're just, That's a whole other podcast really is travelling with a disability.

Yeah, but no, it'd be very exciting. So I'm looking forward to that one in September. 

Teisha: That’s great. That'd be fantastic. It's a place to go at the moment. I've known quite a few people have been there and recently, so it's great. 

Leah: Yeah, well everyone's saying it's very clean and very friendly, very safe. So I'm like, great.

Teisha: Yeah, that's what we want. 

Leah: I'll let you know how accessible it is when I get back. 

Teisha: Yeah, yeah. I can't travel. No one's going to insure me with stage four cancer and MS. I'm like, you know, but that's all right. We're, we're sitting on our land. Don't need to do much. 

Leah: No one, no one insures me either. 

Teisha: Yeah, it's hard, isn't it?

Leah: It's not fair. A few times [00:40:00] we've been to Bali and, you know, going to a third world country, it's a bit scary thinking if something happens and yeah. 

Teisha: Yeah, I don't get it because we're not doing all the scary things that people can run and jump out of plane, you know, that we don't.

Leah: I'm just sitting by the pool, really, in Bali. Just watching.

Teisha: Yeah. So that's all right. No, that's great. So for people who want to connect with you, so I don't know if you want to share your Instagram or any other way, you know, if someone knows someone who has FA to get in contact. So what's the best way?

Leah: I'm on Instagram a lot. My awareness or FA page is Being underscore Leah, being Leah. Um, and yeah, people [00:41:00] look at that. There's lots of different experiences or, um, even message me on there. I'm pretty responsive to messages. 

Teisha: That great. That's great. And yeah, thank you so much. You know, I wrote down your name when I decided I wanted to start doing interviews.

I thought you embodied Hurdle2Hope and now I'm just so excited. So I will be using that soundbite of you talking about, you know, accepting the now, but not giving up hope for the future. Because there's nothing, no other, You know, bits that people remember that is so insightful and important. Um, so thank you.

Thank you for sharing your story and being so open because it can be hard doing that. So I really appreciate your time.

Leah: Yeah. Pleasure. Thank you. 

Teisha: You're welcome.[00:42:00] 

Summary

So I hope you enjoyed that episode as much as I did. I love chatting to Leah. Leah just exudes such beautiful energy and have a look on my Instagram page at Hurdle2Hope with the number 2 and yeah, you'll see a picture of Leah and you'll see what I mean. She's just got such beautiful energy and she has had to deal with so much from such a young age.

I mean I was 22 when diagnosed with MS and I thought that was young, and it is young, but dealing with something from a 17 year old is so full on, but she's still had an incredible life. Her life is so full. I really encourage you to follow Leah on her Instagram page @Being_Leah. I'll also put all of [00:43:00] those links in the show notes of this episode.

So that's all from me. I hope you have a great week. If you're not already, do follow me on Instagram. I've been sharing lots as to my world now on our beautiful property. Um, and I am absolutely loving life here. I'll also put in a link to my in the show notes of our newsletter sign up. Otherwise, just head to the website hurdle2hope.com/newsetter, hurdle2hope with the number two, sign up and then we can stay in contact. Have a great week and we'll chat really soon. 

Wellbeing Interrupted Outro

Thank you so much for joining me today on Wellbeing Interrupted. If today's episode inspired you, or you think it could help others, [00:44:00] please share it by tagging at Hurdle2Hope in your Instagram stories, or just by Just by telling a friend about it.

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I'd love to see you there. Always remember to thrive after a life changing diagnosis. Your mindset is everything.