People

Mihi is living well with MS

May 27, 2021

Woman sitting on beige couch with her legs crossed smiling into the camera

In 2014, Mihiri Tillakaratne’s family doctor sent her for an MRI. She’d been having some issues with her vision and mobility, but none of the medical professionals she’d seen had been able to figure out why.

Since she was a teen, she’d had occasional problems with her sight and movement, but it had always been a mystery.

When the MRI results came back, Mihiri—who goes by Mihi—learned she had multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease that affects the nervous system. At the age of 36, she finally understood what had been happening to her.

“It was the shock of my life,” she says.

Born and raised in the U.K., Mihi fell in love with marketing and travelled the world while working for a global watch brand, helping the company expand to international markets. “It was so much fun, it was glamorous,” she says. “It opened my eyes to the world in front of me.”

By 2014, Mihi was living in Canada and married with a young son. Her diagnosis led to more medical appointments—vision tests, mobility tests, spinal taps, more MRIs. “It was such hard news to take in,” she says.

Now, Mihi is a senior manager of brand marketing at Loblaw. She started in March—and is loving it. Colleagues have been supportive and welcoming, she says, and being surrounded by positive energy makes a big difference during these challenging COVID-19 times.

“I'm so grateful I can still continue to create amazing things and launch amazing brands,” she says. “There’s so much legacy and equity in what Loblaw stands for, and I’m so excited to give my contribution to this story.”

Mihi’s work is one of the things that keeps her afloat. So is spending time with her active 11-year-old, who she calls “Mr. Sports Man.” MS is considered a progressive condition, meaning symptoms usually change and worsen over time.

“I'm driven by the positive things in my life rather than being pulled down by the negatives,” says Mihi. "It’s hard, without a doubt, but I try to take care of myself by staying physically and mentally healthy.”

Recently, Mihi started playing guitar again. She grew up singing and playing music, but stopped during “the craziness of life,” as she puts it. Guitar has also helped her improve dexterity and mobility in her hands.

“I don’t know what the future holds for me with MS, but I’m grateful for what I have in light of potential challenges that may arise along the way.”

World MS Day is May 30th. For more information, visit MS Society of Canada(Open in a new tab).