'For years, I put my symptoms down to old age. Then a doctor told me the truth.'

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For a long time, Jo Mooney thought the changes in her body were down to age catching-up with her.

She was in her late 60s, still active, still busy, still the kind of woman who filled every week with social catch-ups and charity work. As a marriage celebrant, she was often on her feet. So when her legs began to feel unsteady and the falls became more frequent, she brushed it off.

"I told myself it was balance, maybe muscle weakness, just part of ageing," she says. "I started using a walking stick and thought that would fix it."

Watch Dr Mariam on the warning signs you shouldn't ignore on the Well podcast. Post continues below.

But deep down, she knew something wasn't right. The moment that changed everything happened on the deck of her tiny home in Bendigo.

"I was just walking, and suddenly I couldn't balance," she said.

"That was the final straw. I knew I had to get serious about my slips, trips and falls."

Jo booked an appointment with her GP in Melbourne and began what would become a two-year search for answers. There were blood tests, nerve conduction studies, a muscle biopsy, multiple brain scans and MRIs. At one point, doctors told her she had Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

"I did a lot of research on that diagnosis, and some of the symptoms fit, but others didn't," she said. "Then, by coincidence, I had a fall at Cabrini Hospital and a neurologist referred me to Professor Susan Mathers at Calvary Bethlehem in Caulfield."

Professor Mathers — a leading specialist in progressive neurological diseases — recognised what others had missed. Jo didn't have FND. She had Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Her diagnosis was confirmed in September 2024 when she was 68.

Surprisingly, her most immediate feeling wasn't fear, it was relief.

"Sheer relief," she said. "Because I'd already started to suspect."

"Life is very different now."

Image: Supplied.

Looking back, Jo can see the red flags of MND more clearly now.

"The falls were becoming more frequent. I started getting weakness on my right side," she said.

"I'd drop things, couldn't hold a pen or a knife properly. Even getting off the floor after yoga was hard. I was frustrated but didn't want to make a fuss."

MND, she later learnt, attacks the nerve cells that control muscle movement, such as walking, talking, swallowing, even breathing. It's a progressive, terminal disease that affects around 2,000 Australians — with two people diagnosed and two dying from it every day.

There's no known cause or cure, and in most cases, it's not inherited.

According to MND Victoria, the average life expectancy after diagnosis is around 27-months, though every person's journey is different.

"It was gruelling to get to that point," Jo said, "but I was grateful to finally know."

Since her diagnosis, Jo's world has changed dramatically. She can no longer walk without assistance. She uses a wheelchair, relies on a ventilator eight hours at night and four hours during the day, and needs help with simple daily tasks. But her mind, humour and social nature remain intact.

"It's been difficult not having a body that moves with my functioning brain anymore," she said. "But I've come to terms with my new lifestyle. I'm lucky to have so much support from friends, family and MND Victoria."

Her neighbours take her out to local cafés. Friends organise maxi taxis so she can attend birthdays and picnics.

"My social life has slowed down," she said, "but it's still fun, just in a different way."

She still finds ways to give back, proudly supporting the Special Kids Charity she's championed for years.

Listen to the latest from the Well podcast, your full body health-check. Post continues below.

"Don't ignore what your body is trying to tell you."

When asked what she's learnt about herself, Jo says it mostly comes down to strength and humour.

"I've learned that I'm strong. I've learned patience, with others, but mostly with myself. And I've learned that good humour can get you through anything in life," she said.

Her friends tell her that her quick wit makes it easier for them to talk about her illness. "It's not just my disease," she said. "It affects everyone who loves me."

Support from MND Victoria has been another lifeline, providing her with the equipment, advice and emotional guidance to adapt to life with MND. "They've given me everything I need to live as easily as possible," Jo said.

For anyone dismissing symptoms as just getting older, Jo's advice is "don't ignore what your body is trying to tell you."

"If people feel unusual signs, like falling more often or dropping things, go to your GP and start the ball rolling," Jo said. "You might not get answers immediately, but keep pushing."

As for what keeps her going, it's the same thing that's always defined her life: connection.

"The only thing that keeps me positive and motivated is that my friends and family don't change," she said. "I've never wanted anyone to feel sorry for me. I just ask everyone to be as normal as possible.

"We all know the outcome of this disease, but the best part is carrying on life as normal. In other words, business as usual. Nothing to see here except love, joy and hope."

Feature image: Supplied.