When her son Christian took over a farm in the Uckermark in autumn 1993, his mother Brigitte Bernhard followed him east from Rhineland-Palatinate. At that time, she already had her diagnosis in her luggage. At the age of 38, the young woman first experienced physical symptoms for which there was initially no explanation. When she turned 40, doctors correctly guessed multiple sclerosis (MS). When asked why she didn’t lose her will to live in the face of the horrors prophesied, Brigitte Bernhard says very pragmatically: “That’s probably because I didn’t revolt against it internally. After the first phase of mourning, I was ready to take the illness for granted. That made it easier for me to deal with it. You have to learn to live with MS.”
family support
She would also like to mention the support of her family, which she could always count on. Above all, her son and daughter-in-law in Stegemannshof make everyday life as easy as possible for her to this day. “But unfortunately the times when I could jump on my bike and go to the strawberry stand to help are over,” she adds regretfully. In the meantime, walkers and wheelchairs have become her indispensable companions. “But I can still take a few steps with a stick,” she hastens to assure herself, laughing.
+++ This nervous condition mostly affects women +++
The members of the MS self-help group, which she joined in 1998, have also benefited from this enthusiasm for decades. “I knew that from my time in Kaiserslautern. I always found the exchange with the MS patients there to be very enriching and also empowering,” emphasizes Brigitte Bernhard in an interview: “I wish that in my new home as well.” The retiree looks back with satisfaction and has been involved in group life from the very beginning. So it was only logical that she took over the presidency in 2006. But this era is now coming to an end. The senior will turn 80 in September. Then she would like to hand over her office to younger hands.
give up post
With this news, Brigitte Bernhard surprised the members of her group on Wednesday, who had come together again for the strawberry festival on her son’s farm for the first time after a long corona break. “We have taken the contact restrictions very seriously in the last two years,” says the group leader: “Due to our medical history, we could not afford to be careless when dealing with the virus. Everyone accepted that.”
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Thanks to the new media, they still stayed in touch. Skype was used regularly, and specialist news such as new therapies and medication quickly made the rounds via Whatsapp. At least as important as the medical aspect was the personal exchange. Brigitte Bernhard tells of those affected who, because of their age or being unable to work, have hardly any contact with other people. “There are some who otherwise hardly get out. The support in the group was extremely important for them, especially during the pandemic.” So you can imagine how happy it was to see each other again after a long absence. Brigitte Bernhard is certain that a worthy successor for the presidency will be found.
More women than men
She also has someone in mind who she trusts to lead the group just as prudently and empathetically and, above all, to help newcomers in the first difficult time after the diagnosis. The fact that most of the participants are women has only a limited reason to do with the fact that they generally find it easier to publicly admit weaknesses and physical disabilities. The 79-year-old knows that it is also because women are disproportionately affected by MS. It is not a hereditary disease, but there are accumulations within families. The youngest of them is in her mid-30s and is currently pregnant with twins. Brigitte Bernhard is at the top of the age list. Because multiple sclerosis has one good thing. It affects life expectancy only minimally. This has been proven in several studies worldwide.