Multiple Sclerosis doesn't wear a face that others can easily see. There is no bandage for numbness, No cast for fatigue, No visible wound for loss of control. 

At 30 years old, Shruti Ghate’s journey with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) began quietly. She had tingling sensations in her feet that turned into burning pain and numbness that never went away. 

‘At first, I thought it was temporary, maybe it would get better after some rest or sleep. But it didn’t.’ Doctors were baffled, and she was passed from one specialist to another in search of answers. Even before a name was given to the illness, I was battling something every day. The fatigue, the weakness, and the unexplained symptoms wore me down. 

Finally, after years of uncertainty, Shruti was told the nerves in her brain and spinal cord were going through demyelination, caused by MS. It was a moment that marked the beginning of a long and unpredictable journey…one that was often filled with fear and confusion. Shruti is one of nearly three million people worldwide living with the debilitating condition. 

The exact cause of MS is unknown, but scientists agree it’s an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the protective myelin coating around nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord. Women are around three times more likely than men to develop MS and prevalence is higher in countries farther from the equator, like Australia. 

In My Invisible Battle, Shruti opens the door to the unseen reality of living with the degenerative condition that she says slowly changes everything. ‘There were days I cried for the person I used to be. The grief was invisible, like the illness itself.’ 

What began as Relapsing Remitting (RRMS) which meant relapses only once a year during summers, post Covid, her symptoms increased and it turned into Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS). ‘When the COVID vaccine was introduced, I hoped it would bring some relief… But I had read and heard that for people like me… the vaccine could sometimes trigger flare-ups. And that’s exactly what happened. The shot that was supposed to protect me instead pushed my body into another spiral.’ 

As the disease progressed, it brought unpredictable fatigue, weakness, muscle stiffness, and a loss of balance. Shruti also developed bladder issues which required a catheter, something she says is a constant reminder of her body’s betrayal. And then came a new addition to Shruti’s reality — a wheelchair. It felt painful to even look at it, let alone sit in it. Yet, I knew it was the only way forward if I wanted to stay mobile and independent. Even though the simplest tasks had become daunting, she refused to let the disease define her. 

Once known for her thriving IT career and endlessly busy schedule, she now finds herself, at just 42, living a life carefully balanced between therapies, medications, and the steady support of her carers. I now know there’s no point in being embarrassed or guilty about the help I need. If I need a wheelchair, or help in bathing or eating, so be it. I still find joy in the small wins. I celebrate what I can do, rather than mourn what I can’t. 

Her courage extends beyond physical endurance. Through writing, music, and reflection, she has transformed her pain into purpose, sharing her story so others living with invisible illness know they are not alone. My story is not unique — and that’s exactly why it matters. 

I wrote My Invisible Battle to remind readers that they are not alone, that their pain has purpose, and that healing is possible even when the world doesn’t see their struggle. 

“My identity is not dependent on how independent I look on the outside, but what courage I carry inside.”