Dimitri Garbas’ battle with Multiple Sclerosis started three years ago and has since changed his life and the lives of those around him.

Married to Lisa, the love of his life, the couple were expecting their first child when Mr Garbas, aged 30 at the time, woke up one morning feeling exhausted and unable to move. Up until that time he had no symptoms or other pre-existing health issues.

“Not being able to feel 85 per cent of my body was truly one of the most terrifying experiences of my life,” the 33-year-old told Neos Kosmos.

After undertaking a series of tests, Mr Garbas was diagnosed with MS.

His doctors confirmed that what the young Greek Australian had experienced that morning was a massive multiple sclerosis relapse that led to 40 lesions in his brain and three lesions in the spinal cord.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system, interfering with nerve impulses within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. It is characterised by sclerosis a Greek word meaning scars. These scars occur within the central nervous system and depending on where they develop, manifest into various symptoms.

“I was shocked and scared when I heard the diagnosis and all I could think of was my pregnant wife who had to carry the emotional and financial burden with me. At the same time I couldn’t help but wonder whether I would be able to be a good father to our daughter and how long it would be before the illness took away the simple joys of being a new father,” Mr Garbas said. Worst still, he was forced to resign from his position as HR Manager due to the severity of his illness.

MS affects every patient differently as the condition can vary in severity, with symptoms including fatigue, weakness, muscle spasms and difficulty maintaining balance.

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Dimitri and his family. Photo: Supplied

“For me, normal daily routines can be a struggle. Something as simple as driving to the shops in the heat or picking my daughter up or even putting clothes on can leave me so tired and weak that I want to collapse on the floor. It is truly heart breaking when my little girl is looking at me begging me to play and I simply do not have the energy to do so. She doesn’t understand why her baba looks just fine but can’t move like her mother her grandparents and uncles and aunties do,” Mr Garbas said, admitting that MS has profoundly affected not just his physical health, but has also taken a serious toll on his mental health leaving him struggling with anxiety, depression and emotional changes that are not always possible to manage.

Despite the complexities of his condition, Mr Garbas and his wife Lisa have been blessed with two healthy children, 2-year-old Kristina and little Joseph whose arrival to the world was nothing short of a miracle as the doctors had ruled out the possibility of the couple having another child due to the medication Mr Garbas was on. Nevertheless, they managed to fall pregnant naturally.

Mr Garbas, whose parents migrated to Australia from Florina and Pella, was raised in a traditional Greek Orthodox family environment, and says his faith and the people around him have helped him get through the hard times.

“I pray every day and night and throughout the day. My mother has given me a book of prayers that she got from a monastery in Greece and I carry that book with me and more often than not, especially when the days get long and I am beyond weak, I turn to my faith in order to keep strong and positive.

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Dimitris Garbas in hospital

As thankful as Mr Garbas is for his family, his wife who has been his rock throughout his difficult journey with the debilitating illness and his two beautiful children, the battle against MS is simply one he can’t fight alone, therefore the young father of two is hoping to travel to Russia next year in order to undergo Haematopoietic Stem Cell Treatment (HSCT), currently the only treatment that has been scientifically proven to help put a stop to the advancement of MS.

However, like most treatments of its kind, the earlier the intervention the better.

In order to get to Russia and complete the treatment, the family faces a hefty bill of $70,000 and is seeking assistance through the generosity of the Greek Australian and wider Australian community.

“Those who know me know that I am a proud person and I would not normally ask for help but I want to be able to see my children grow up and be there for them,” Mr Garbas said.

READ MORE: MS survivor Ari Arambatzis given a second chance at life thanks to Russian MS treatment

For further information or if you wish to help Mr Garbas you can donate:

Commonwealth Bank
Dimitri Garbas

BSB 062-692
Account Number 3802-8910

You can also visit his Go Fund Me page.