When doctors told Kay Baird (61) to expect to be permanently confined to a wheelchair by 2013, she was having none of it.
It’s been nearly four years since that prediction and the Ashburton woman can be found ticking off another workout – her 1029th – and throwing herself into life with her family.
It should come as no surprise then that this attitude and determination has seen her named Senior Curvette of the Year for Australia and New Zealand at Curves women’s gyms.
“I just thought, ‘Gee, this would be a great way to thank the wonderful supportive staff at the gym for all of their help,’” she says about entering.
“It didn’t even occur to me about it going way further than that!” she laughs.
Kay’s accolade is all the more extraordinary because she has multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a progressive neurological disease that affects the body’s central nervous system and can cause problems with vision, balance and muscle control.
Diagnosed at the age of 42, Kay had always led an active life, regularly walking with friends and doing yoga, but she started noticing some strange sensations.
“The thing about this disease is that the symptoms are different for everyone. For me, it was initially a terrible shooting pain in my face, then five years later, parts of my body started feeling numb. But when I poked those areas, they weren’t numb. The nerves were sending fake messages and my skin felt really sensitive.
“I also had a very slight limp when I’d been out walking with friends. Fortunately, my GP sent me to different specialists and the neurologist recognised the symptoms.”
Kay recalls feeling stunned by the diagnosis.
“My children were 10 and 14 at the time, so they needed parents and they keep you busy around that time.
“The first thing I did was call the MS Society, who were incredibly supportive. When you think of MS, you imagine you’re stuck in a chair, unable to move and you wonder when will that happen to me? It’s quite scary.”
But her ability to not let the disease stop her daily life is all thanks to her wonderful family.
“My family were instantly supportive. Especially my husband John. He was so understanding and has done everything possible to help me.
“In some ways we’re partners in that we’ve both got the disease – we both feel the effects of it and we both don’t get the retirement that we thought we’d have. But we’re doing it a different way. I think of it as a different kind of perfect,” Kay explains.
“With John, he knows what I want before I even ask. He helps get things ready and he’s always looking for the next piece of technology that could assist me,” she says.
Kay often uses a wheelchair and her goal is to drive a car that requires only hand controls.
“I’ve always believed in using technology to save energy for the important things.”
It’s been 19 years since Kay was first diagnosed and in that time, she hasn’t let it stop her, despite having to complete tasks with her “concrete legs” as she calls them.
“I started going to the gym in 2007 after I used a visitor’s pass. It was the best decision I ever made. I go about two to three times a week doing a combination of strength, resistance and cardio.
“The gym stretches and strengthens all the bits I find so hard to exercise on my own with the help of hydraulic-resistance machines. I can push as hard as I can while working every major muscle group in the body.
“The staff are also right there, checking that it’s all being done correctly, and are so kind. “I’ve managed to do more than 1000 workouts since I joined the gym, and my goal is to get to 1040 by Christmas.”
Kay hopes that even one person suffering from health or life obstacles will be inspired to persevere.
“A disease like this has a lot of grief with it; you know, it’s really tough. I allow myself to cry at times, but all the fitness keeps me much more positive and you see a very kind side of life. Strangers even come and help us when we’re out, and my husband, friends and family do so much for me.
“I don’t think of myself as disabled,” she adds.
Words: Ciara Pratt
