#006: Interview about the international MS-Community Austria and more with Tania Pilz

Tania Pilz talks about her experiences with MS and the international MS-Community Austria which she founded for more inclusion. You can read all questions and answers on the corresponding blog article: https://ms-perspektive.de/006-tania-pilz

Today my interview guest is Tania Pilz from Austria. Tania was born and raised in South America and came to Austria for her studies. She received her MS diagnosis in COVID lockdown in 2020 via telephone.

Her first symptoms appeared when she was twelve years old. Still the diagnosis got additionally postponed as grown up as she waited to be on full insurance which did only happen when she finished university as private doctors are very costly and she couldn't afford to pay for all the bills on her own.

Soon after, Tania founded the International MS-Community Austria to offer a place to people with MS from minority groups of all different types, not just migration or international background. We are talking about all these different topics and Tanias creative output.

Table of Contents

• Introduction Tania Pilz
• Diagnosis and current status
• International MS-Community Austria
• European MS Platform's Young People's Network
• Army of Ants – illustrations
• Wishes and goals
• Quickfire Q&A Session
• Farewell

Introduction Tania Pilz

My name is Tania Pilz, 31, born in Nicaragua. I grew up in Guatemala and started adulting in Austria. ;) I am a creative person with a background in marketing and communications. But my soul beats for the creative field; anything that you can create with your own hands or body like painting, handicrafts, singing, dancing …

I am also an MS patient. Since my diagnosis I have been actively advocating for diversity and inclusion in the health care system, especially in the MS community. By this I mean mainly the inclusion of minorities like young people, people with migration background, expats, or as I like to call them "internationals", the LGBTQ+ community, people from different social and educational background… and and and. Inclusion beyond the ability or disability spectrum – all kinds of people that are very often set aside within the MS community, but who are also affected by Multiple Sclerosis.

Do you have any advice you would give your younger self for the timing of diagnosis?​

Do it sooner. Listen to your intuition, your body is giving you all the signs.

Don't postpone your diagnosis – you will get through this.

How and where can interested people find you and everything you do online?

Tricky question. I am everywhere, and nowhere. Look for @armyofants on Instagram if you want to follow my illustrations. Search for @ms.international.at if you're an international living with MS in Austria. Or just say hi and find @Tanishroom if you want a glimpse of my personal life.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the listeners?

You are doing a great job! Whatever you are going through something right now, or you're actively working to better yourself, to achieve your dreams, to support others, or if your just simply breathing, alive, or just existing – you are doing a great job.

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Thanks a lot to Tania for all her insight views and engagement for young people with MS. In case you are planning to found some kind of International MS community in your region, please feel free to contact Tania. She is more than willing to provide you tips and advice.

See you soon and try to make the best out of your life,
Nele

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