Market Harborough woman releases new book about journey following multiple sclerosis diagnosis
A Market Harborough woman has released a new book about her life after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Patricia Lavelle, who was born and raised in the town, was diagnosed with the condition more than 20 years ago.
Her book ‘Sole Journey’ tells the story of her travels around the world, the challenges she has faced and how listening to her body has helped her since her diagnosis, which she recalled came on her birthday.
“My first symptoms were labyrinthitis, followed a couple of years later by vertigo and then optic neuritis,” Patricia said.
“I temporarily lost my sight, my balance was badly affected, my hearing was impacted, and at one point I couldn’t walk for about a month.
“After a series of MRI scans, a lumbar puncture and appointments with the hospital eye clinic, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“Receiving the diagnosis was surreal. It was my birthday, and Ozzy Osbourne was in the room next door after falling off his quad bike.
“I remember the MS nurse trying to put things into perspective by saying, ‘you could get run over by a bus tomorrow.’
Despite the illness, life took Patricia around the world to locations as varied as Sydney, New York and Jersey.
Sole Journey is the story of Patricia’s experiences, which included living on a house in Long Island once owned by John Lennon, and working alongside Lord Alan Sugar.
“I hope readers will see themselves somewhere in its pages, whether they are living with a health condition or not,” Patricia said.
After a ‘varied’ career journey, Patricia followed her passion for holistic health, retraining and working as a reflexologist and foot healthcare practitioner, which saw her work with professional sportspeople.
Patricia now runs a practice in Newton Harcourt offering treatments including holistic medical foot care, reflexology and trauma-informed nervous system work.
She said returning to the Harborough area ‘felt like coming home’, and that the reaction to her book had been ‘heartwarming.’
“Writing the book became a way of bringing together everything I have learned and sharing it with others,” Patricia said.
“I now want to take these findings further through workshops, talks and classes, creating spaces where people can learn, reflect and reconnect with themselves.
“The reaction to the book so far has been incredibly heartwarming.
"People have connected with the honesty of the journey and the message that we all can listen to our bodies, learn from our experiences and create positive change in our lives.”
Sole Journey by Patricia Lavelle is on sale now via her website.