the worst thing that has ever happened to me also became my greatest blessing. That’s how I think of it now: without the absolute horror of waking up one day and not being able to move, see, hear, or speak; without the ordeal that followed, I wouldn’t have changed my life. I would still be an unforgiving perfectionist, pushing myself without mercy to achieve, without stopping to consider if it’s what I really want, without any regard for my own wellbeing… all while presenting an image of a successful woman. I wouldn’t be able to raise awareness of functional neurological disorder (FND), which I believe is probably far more prevalent than people realise – even among healthcare professionals. This is my story.
Climbing the ladder
After working in tourism overseas for over 12 years, I came back to South Africa and began to establish a career for myself in the travel industry here. I had clients from all around the world: Australia,