Having multiple sclerosis has definitely not slowed Heidi DeSilva down -- it has only empowered her to do the things she may not have done before.

She is a 38 year-old mother of two. She rides horses, walks three times a week, water skis and just started taking lessons to learn how to play the drums.

She also does lighting for different shows around the Island, helps out with various charities and clubs and is also multiple sclerosis person of the year.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that effects the coating of your nerves.

"It's like an electrical cord that has been cut and when you go to plug something in it shorts out. The messages from your brain get shorted out before they reach other parts of your body,'' explains Mrs. DeSilva.

But you can look at a person with MS and not know they have it -- a fact that appears to be confirmed when meeting with Mrs. DeSilva herself.

"I was diagnosed six years ago. I woke up one morning and my upper lip was numb, by the time I went to bed one whole side of my face was numb. Over the next two weeks the numbness and tingling sensations spread through the rest of my body,'' Mrs. DeSilva said.

She added: "I decided to go away to the Lahey Clinic in Boston to find out what was wrong and after they ran tests on me I was diagnosed with MS. I didn't have a clue what it was.

"When I came back, I went to the library and looked up MS and got really scared because the only two books they had were outdated and a lot has been done scientifically to help MS sufferers since they were published.'' Mrs. DeSilva said she has been extremely lucky because she only suffers from minor symptoms like fatigue, which is very common with MS sufferers and "if I have been on my feet too long my legs go numb and I can't feel them. I also have to be careful in the summer, not to be too active during the heat of the day.'' People who suffer from more severe MS can lose their vision, ability to walk, use of your arms and a less pleasant side effect is having no control over bladder and bowel functions.

"With MS you go through exacerbations -- periods of being well and being sick and when you have a period of sickness you don't seem to fully recover so when you get sick again it is worse.

"MS is a progressively degenerating disease which strikes people age 25 to 55 and it is more common with women. It also seems to effect people living in colder climates more.'' Mrs. DeSilva added that there have recently been two medications to hit pharmaceutical shelves that are suppose to lessen the effects of attacks. They cost about $1,200 a month."Luckily I have been medication free.

"I have been an active member of the local MS Society and I've been both past vice-president and president and I was elected MS person of the year by the group.

"Every year we choose a person to represent the society leading up to the carnation donation sale we have every year. We hold it right before Mother's Day.'' Mrs. DeSilva said one third of the monies raised is sent to the Canadian Society for Research to help find a cure for MS and the rest goes towards helping local MS sufferers with going abroad for treatment, medicine and small things like buying a case of Depends (adult diapers) or air conditioners for people who are having a terrible time with the heat.

When she was told she had MS, Mrs. DeSilva said everyone was telling her to `take it easy' and slow down "but I did just the opposite because I realised life is too short.

"Being fast paced could make my condition worse, but I would rather do the things I have always talked about for years and enjoy my life to the fullest then have regrets that I missed out on the things I like to do.'' Mrs. DeSilva also said she has the help of a "great'' husband that is very supportive. "When I am really tired he will take over and do the cooking and care for the children.'' One major effect MS has had on her life: "My husband and I wanted to have another child but my neurologist advised me against it. It was upsetting but it was probably the best thing for me, I didn't want to have a child and not be able to hold it.'' The MS Society meets the first Monday of each month at St. Mark's Church hall at 6.30 p.m. "It's the one place everyone can talk about what they are going through and share their experiences,'' Mrs. DeSilva added.