About
“In the depth of winter,
I finally learned that within me
lay an invincible summer.”
(Albert Camus)
“IMSM is an award-winning blog that recounts the journey of the quirky, tenacious, and neurologically compromised life of Willeke-Maya on becoming normal when life with MS is a beautiful mess. Fifteen years post-diagnosis, her world turned more imaginative, engaging, and determined. In short, “My lesions and I are one big happy, dysfunctional family.”
Living in Ireland since 2002 and diagnosed 2.5 years later, MS seemed awkward, puzzling, and easier said than done at first. Any illness is unwelcome, and life with multiple sclerosis often resembles a war zone, especially when trigeminal neuralgia, joins fatigue that belongs in the narcolepsy category of life, including sound sensitivity that turn screaming children into auditory hell. Elsewhere, neuropathic pain, vertigo, ataxia, and prospective memory issues are just a few things that occupy my day.
In short, MS is the type of illness that carries this tagline, “The illness is mine, but the tragedy theirs,” when asked how loved ones feel about your condition. Buzzwords that don’t exactly calm down an overactive mind. But life goes on. Fifteen years with a progressive, neurodegenerative illness begs you to keep your chin up, for there is no other way to go through life. I hope you will find some solace in what I write and do feel free to comment or send a private message in the Contact page.
Contributor to several MS organisations and blogs, here are just a few reviews that still make me blush and feel on top of the world to this day:
MyTherapy, Multiple Sclerosis Blogs: 10 of the Best: These Bloggers Living with MS Share Their Insight and Wisdom:
“We wrote of Willeke Van Eeckhoutte last year:
Willeke’s insightful writing and thoughtful sharing of information has earned her blog widespread recognition, and made it a fantastic destination for anyone seeking straight-forward answers to the many questions posed by MS. Those words still ring true today, as Willeke continues to combine musings about her own life with commentary on the wider world of multiple sclerosis.
In the 14 years since Willeke’s diagnosis, she has built a wealth of knowledge on many of the more complicated aspects of multiple sclerosis. Her seemingly effortless ability to use this knowledge to expand upon her own personal experiences is all the more impressive when you consider Willeke, originally from Belgium, is not writing in her native language. Willeke comes across as a thoughtful individual whose blog is as well-written as it is insightful and well-researched.””
Referring to her symptoms as her “MS-sponsored pyjama party,” Willeke-Maya often takes a jovial approach in her blog, Ireland, MS, and Me.
Once, when retrieving the results of an MRI scan, she was asked to present a photo ID, to which she wittily responded, “Isn’t an MRI, a picture of my brain, photo ID?” She also has her more serious moments — like when she questions whether to enjoy life or waste away — but her posts consistently end on a happy note.
PS: Make sure you check out her encouraging post about being single and chronically ill on Valentine’s Day, and why it really doesn’t matter!”
More on awards and nominations
This website does not:
◾ Publish health claims that seem too good to be true
◾ Use deliberately obscure, “scientific” sounding language
◾ Promise quick, dramatic, miraculous results
Updated: January 19th, 2021
2018 Winner Best Blog Post with ‘3443 Needles’, Blog Awards Ireland, Ashville Media Group, Dublin, Ireland
◾ Everyday Health: 2020 Top 10 MS Blogs to Follow; 2018 Top 10 MS Blog
◾ MyTherapy: 2019 Multiple Sclerosis Blogs: 10 of the Best; 2018 Best MS Blog for Simplicity
◾ Feedspot: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 Top 50 MS Blogs to follow
◾ Ireland Blog Awards: 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014 Finalist (Awards competition discontinued in 2018)
© Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and irelandms.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
60 Comments
tamingthewalrus
Hi I hope you’re doing well. I’ll definitely check your posts.. Wishing you a wonderful day. Véronique
Willeke
Thanks for following my posts Véronique!
Take care!
Pascale
Thanks for the invitation, Willeke! I’ll definitely love to read your posts…
Saverio
I’m always following your posts.
I wish you all the best
Billie
Sorry for not seeing your comment sooner Saverio, it ended up in my spam folder on here. Thank you so much for reading and for your well wishes!
Nafees
honesty and freedom, my top priorities 🙂
Billie
If they could be everyone’s priority I wonder if the world and our lives would not be a more peaceful place 😀
Nafees
yeah so true but only artists are like that and unfortunately they suffer from being cheated and slavery life 🙁
Billie
There’s some truth in that, being free and completely honest is something people have to learn, they just don’t get to that stage without having crashed and burned before.
Nafees
yeah you’re right but nothing much we can do but trying to live with people who are better comparatively 🙂
johncoyote
You have a amazing site. Filled with life and energy. Thank you.
Billie
Thank you John! Always nice to hear comments like yours!
smallfrybigworld
It’s interesting to see non-Irish people living in Ireland’s viewpoints on Irish society and culture..I am Irish living in Germany and of course I hear the stereotypical “rose-tinted” glasses view you mentioned in your latest post all of the time. Where are you from anyway? If you don’t mind me asking..
Billie
I’m originally from Belgium, but I find the country too crowded, too noisy and dirty for me. Flying back to Ireland is always followed by a sigh of relief so 🙂 And yes, a whole lot of people have that rose-tinted view of Ireland, although the Ireland of old is hard to find in Dublin these days. Mind you, I still find the Irish as friendly as 10-11 years ago 🙂
And if you don’t mind me asking, where in Ireland are you from?
Sky Sairyou
Hey, I’ve been living in Belgium since 2004, in Antwerp since 2009. Judging from your blog’s name you must be from Flanders too? Great to see another exophonic writer—and one who can write well at that. 🙂
idiosyncratic eye
Like your blog design too! 🙂
Billie
Thank you!
Sky Sairyou
Wow. Your blog’s design is gorgeous!
Billie
Thank you!!!
cyril
Hello you have a great blog here..Thanks for submitting article via blog.I think you post the same article on your blog also.
Cyril
Billie
Yes, I was a bit unsure how to use your website. Thank you for the nice comment!
cyril
thanks..If you can submit fresh articles through our blog.
Cyril
lionaroundwriting
Great blog.
Billie
Thank you! Always nice to receive great comments! 😀
crankycaregiver
You had me at “Ireland!” Land of my ancestors and top of my bucket list to see before I pass on! Thanks for sharing!
Billie
Hahaha yeah, feel free coming over for a visit!
lindagracecox
I greatly appreciate your attitude! I know it isn’t easy, some days are harder than others. I look forward to getting to know you!
Billie
Some days are indeed better than others, but you learn as you go along I suppose. And sincerest apologies Linda for the very late reply. It must have gotten stuck in between others.
writeonthebeach
Hello and thanks for visiting and liking my blog. I hope the heat isn’t too bad for you. I’ll be checking on your posts and hope you’ll come back again and visit me soon. Take care of yourself.
Billie
Thanks for stopping by!
At this stage I’ve been praying for rain and it’s on the way, at least parts of Ireland have had minor flash flooding but not where I live.
You’ve a wonderful blog and I look forward to reading more!
bandhnabajaj
Great Blog. I love your optimism 🙂 Will be following regularly! xx
Billie
Thanks, and apologies for the erm… very late reply!
Catherine
Wonderful blog! Keep up your positive attitude! Blessings!
Billie
Thank you Catherine! I’ll do my best!
sf
You make me wanna get them boots too! How talented you are to know how to speak 4 languages! Loved your post about Before & After coffee!!!
Billie
Aaw thank you! Coffee and Doc Martens boots probably the best thing in the world :D)
John Hric
Hug sent…
Billie
Thanks John!
jesusdiedandlives
I just wrote on trigeminal neuralgia and a cause. Hope you find healing in Jesus! http://jesusdiedandlives.wordpress.com
meticulousmick
Bllie, just came by to say thanks for the follow, it is really appreciated, welcome on board. A fantastic and uplifting about page I have to say. Off for a tour…MM 🍀
Indira
You are very inspiring and loveable.
Fraukje
Respect!! With this attitude, you will defete MS!
Mark Aldrich
Thank you for nominating The Gad About Town (http://thegadabouttown.wordpress.com/) for the Liebster Award … I promise to do my best to maintain standards of excellence. Your blog and your work as an advocate are inspiring me to do more about ataxia and neuromuscular disease awareness issues with my blog. I love the connections I have made in only a couple months as a blogger.
Billie
Thank you so much for your kind words Mark! I will be checking into your blog regularly because I love your topics!
Playamart - Zeebra Designs
hey from ecuador
thanks for the pingback (smiles) and i am glad to see your blog and read about your life. a very long time ago i had a ‘possible’ diagnosis of MS so i have special empathy for anyone who has made life changes becasue of MS. i think/hope that aspartame was the trigger in my own body, and aside from fatigue, i have had no more symptoms. yes, i fall asleep anytime anywhere and sometimes wonder if it’s narcolepsy…
anyway, i am delighted to find your blog and will be following. my internet is very very slow, so many times i might be able to read but not comment or like, but i’ll be there when possible to follow your progress.
thanks again,
lisa
Margie Brizzolari
Thank you for the pingback. I love your determination and positive attitude.
Billie
Thanks Margie!
afsheenanjum
Hello there,
Glad to know you, I will be around to know more about you.
May Allah bless you and your loved ones,ameen
janeybgood
I’m glad that I have found your blog. My father has MS, and I have done some fundraising with him.
I’m also living in Ireland and like you, I couldn’t attend the Blog Awards (for a different reason: I’m epileptic).
Your blog looks amazing! You have put so much work into it, it’s a pity you didn’t win but wasn’t it just wonderful to be a finalist?
I’m looking forward to reading more!
MSer
hello, i’m loving your blog, thank you for sharing. Both my dad and I have MS, i think that puts me in an extremely small minority so I am looking for others in the same situation! 🙂
Allan G. Smorra
Thank you for following my blog.
Allan
Willeke
My pleasure, Allan!
pensitivity101
Thought I’d pop over and say Hi to welcome you aboard Pensitivity101. Thanks for the follow. Comments are always welcome, so hope something somewhere amongst my musings will interest, bemuse, or amuse you.
Jeff Cann
Thanks for following my blog. I’ve returned the favor. This is a timely meeting. I’ve just finished reading a profile of Ultra-runner-with-MS Shannon Farar-Griefer, and it left me with lots of questions… which it seems likely that you’re going to answer. Looking forward to my education and getting to know you,
TanGental
To follow a blog is a generosity of a superior mind, thank you for finding mine.
thecyclingdiva
Thank you for following my blog. I am honored.
Aslam Kakar
Hi Willeke, thanks for following my blog which brought me to your wonderful website. Thanks for spreading optimism. I will keep visiting your posts.
Sincerely,
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