25/03/2026
Dear friends… this is hard to write, it’s been over 2 years since my last post. But today on FND Awareness Day, it feels like the right time to share.
Almost 2 years ago I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)- a condition of the nervous system that affects how my brain communicates with itself, and my body. It started suddenly with what looked like a stroke, and very quickly I was having daily seizures, tremors, body and facial spasms, nerve and muscle pain, speech difficulties, and overwhelming fatigue. My balance was very poor, and my legs would collapse unpredictably, leading to injuries (like fracturing my coccyx.) I couldn’t walk more than a few steps, and I needed to rely on a wheelchair much of the time when I was out of home.
There is no cure for FND, but it’s possible to improve with early intervention. I spent months in hospital rehabilitation as an inpatient, many more months as an outpatient, and continue with weekly therapies. I’ve gradually become more mobile outside of the house and can walk much better, though I still need my wheelchair most of the time. But I’ve made a lot of progress, I’m more optimistic about the future now. In this time, I was diagnosed with Autism too, which is often comorbid with FND.
So what’s happening with Lovely People Studio? To be honest, I’m still not sure. I haven’t uploaded any new artwork into the shop for almost 2.5 years. When things stabilised with my FND, I started accepting retainers, and I’m currently booked to capacity with a little room for ad hoc custom work. I’m very thankful to my clients who have been supportive in working around my disability.
Today a petition has started on Parliament of Australia for the urgent need to approve a Medicare plan for FND. Early treatment is so important- I am grateful I was able to access that, but the costs are massive and many people cannot afford it. NDIS often takes years of fighting and needing to go to tribunal. We would so appreciate your support (I’ll put the link in bio) 🙏
Love Mish xx
