Now aged 33, Goddard is sharing her story to mark MS Awareness Week, which begins today. <\/p>\n
MS is a chronic neurological condition affecting the central nervous system. The immune system attacks the protective layer of nerve fibres, disrupting communication between the brain and body.<\/p>\n
The condition affects more than 5000 New Zealanders, according to MS New Zealand (MSNZ). There is no cure.<\/p>\n
MSNZ said this year\u2019s awareness week theme was \u201ctime matters\u201d, to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n
It is a theme Goddard wholeheartedly agrees with.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting on my meds early, I think that\u2019s given me a massive advantage \u2026 \u201d<\/p>\n
Waiting to give birth before starting treatment<\/p>\n
Goddard said she remembered telling her midwife of her symptoms.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer face just went into shock.\u201d<\/p>\n
Goddard was admitted to the emergency ward for testing. <\/p>\n
The tests were clear for anything pregnancy-related. This indicated something was wrong neurologically, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty much, I went in for the pregnancy appointment that day, and I was admitted for a week.\u201d<\/p>\n
She had a lumbar puncture and an MRI scan to confirm her MS diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Goddard said she was given steroids \u201cto calm down the symptoms\u201d, but had to wait until after giving birth before starting immunotherapy treatment.<\/p>\n
When she was 30 weeks pregnant, she stopped working because her vision was badly deteriorating.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t \u2026 see the traffic lights when I was driving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Goddard said she took medication to help. Two weeks later, her vision improved.<\/p>\n
Sam and Anthony Goddard with their son Charlie after he was born in 2018.<\/p>\n
At 38 weeks pregnant, she was induced and gave birth.<\/p>\n
Shortly afterwards, Goddard was transferred from the birthing centre to the neurology department to have immunotherapy.<\/p>\n
Goddard had immunotherapy every four weeks for a year. Once her MS and MRI scans were stable, she switched to six-weekly treatments.<\/p>\n
\u2018Lucky\u2019 to have few MS symptoms<\/p>\n
Goddard said the family moved back to New Zealand in 2019, and she continued her treatment at Tauranga Hospital.<\/p>\n
She said she had permanent damage in her brain and spine, \u201cbut nothing that\u2019s affected my walking capabilities\u201d.<\/p>\n
Goddard said she became fatigued more easily than the average person, and getting sick was \u201ca bit scary\u201d due to being immunocompromised.<\/p>\n
She considered herself \u201clucky\u201d to not have many symptoms, which she attributed to being diagnosed young and starting treatment early.<\/p>\n
Sam Goddard, here with husband Anthony and sons Billy (right) and Charlie (left), considers herself lucky not to have many symptoms.<\/p>\n
Goddard said her diagnosis put life into perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t really know what the future holds, which is a bit daunting because a lot of people, their disease can progress \u2026 \u201d<\/p>\n
Goddard \u2013 who runs events with her brand Seaside Sippers \u2013 said \u201ctime massively matters\u201d with MS.<\/p>\n
She founded the Seaside Hearts Foundation to help young people with neurological autoimmune diseases through charity events.<\/p>\n
What are the risks of delayed diagnosis?<\/p>\n
An MSNZ statement said research showed people who started treatment within six months of their first symptom had a 30% slower rate of disease progression compared with those who started treatment later.<\/p>\n
Early symptoms included loss of balance, numbness, pain, tremor, weakness, blurred vision, fatigue, and cognitive changes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re concerned about changes to your sensations, balance, weakness or visual changes, which aren\u2019t going away, or otherwise explainable, report them to your GP.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they continue, push for a referral to neurology.\u201d<\/p>\n
MSNZ national manager Amanda Rose said delayed diagnosis correlated with worse disease severity and higher disability scores.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe greater the delay to diagnosis, the greater the disability at a person\u2019s baseline, some of which will remain permanent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Treatments could delay progression and slow long-term disability, she said.<\/p>\n
Each year of delay in starting treatment raised the risk of someone reaching disability that affected their walking by about 7.4%, Rose said.<\/p>\n
Rose asked people to consider donating to MS Awareness Week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re advocating hard for better care, faster diagnosis, access to world-class treatments, and a stronger voice for the MS community in shaping policy and the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
MZNZ had 18 regional societies across the country to support people with MS, their families and carers. <\/p>\n
Donations can be made on the MSNZ website.<\/p>\n