Wendy Reid is a full-time wheelchair user and one of our MS Members here at KMSTC. She has been married to her husband Ray for 53 years. Together they have three sons along with four grandchildren, three boys and one girl. They moved down from Crystal Palace to Gillingham in 1973. Wendy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis on 4th August 1988 by Dr Pollock here in Canterbury. He told Wendy that she had probably lived with her MS since birth.

Wendy said that the doctor told her “You have two choices, you could sit at home and do nothing or just ignore it for as long as possible and carry on as usual with your life.” At the time, they had an 18-month-old son, so she just carried as usual on with her life.

Wendy first came to the old Centre back in 1989 when it was then called A.R.M.S – Assessing Relapse in Multiple Sclerosis. She said

“The Centre’s main therapy was the oxygen tank back then – I think we are still using the same one today – and it was always a tight squeeze in the smaller building. However, it was like the Centre today: very warm and friendly.”

Unfortunately, Wendy cannot use the oxygen tank as it hurts her ears. She has been coming to the Centre over the years along with her husband Ray. He was a past Chairman of the Medway Branch of the MS Society. They occasionally brought along a minibus of people to see the Centre, many of whom became members. Wendy said

“I have been a member for nine years, ever since the new Centre opened in 2015 and I try to come to the Centre once a week for hydrotherapy or the gym.”

Wendy takes advantage of the hydrotherapy pool here and has also found huge improvements in her mobility during her time in the gym with Chris and his predecessors.

“One year ago, I could walk up and down the parallel bars six times and, on a good day, I am able to do this 60 times – including a step in the middle!”

She also inspires other gym users to try and match her achievements with their own mobility. After using the pool or the gym, Wendy follows up these exercises with a massage. Her husband Ray also exercises her legs and arms daily. She credits all these activities with helping her gain more mobility.