I had the pleasure of meeting Marcus Hoenig who has had success in his career, but along the way has battled disability and did not allow it to deter him from achieving his dream.
Meet Marcus
I want to share a deeply personal part of my journey that has shaped who I am as an entrepreneur.
I’ve been blessed with a fulfilling career & the excitement of leading startups in the sports tech industry. Yet, behind the scenes, I’ve been living with Multiple Sclerosis for 15 years and, more recently, Motor neurone with 1-2 years to live, but 2 years on I am still here.
Sharing this isn’t for sympathy but to celebrate resilience and advocate for visibility and inclusion for disabled individuals.
Understanding more about the illnesses
I decided to share more about Marcus' illnesses so we have an idea not only of his daily battles but also how undeterred he has been.
Motor neurone disease
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system. This leads to muscle weakness, often with visible wasting.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of MND.
MND happens when specialist nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, called motor neurones, stop working properly and die prematurely. This is known as neurodegeneration.
Motor neurones control muscle activity like:
gripping
walking
speaking
swallowing
breathing
As MND progresses, it can become more difficult to do some or all of these activities.
The symptoms of MND start gradually over weeks and months. They tend to appear on one side of the body first and get progressively worse.
There are usually 3 stages of symptoms.
Early symptoms
Sometimes the early symptoms are mistaken for similar conditions that also affect the nervous system.
Advanced symptoms
As MND becomes more advanced, more parts and functions of the body are affected. This can make you more likely to experience infections, like chest infections, which can cause your condition to get worse quicker.
End-stage symptoms
As MND progresses to its final phase, you might experience:
increasing body paralysis, which means you’ll need help with most daily activities
significant shortness of breath
Eventually, non-invasive breathing assistance won’t be enough to make up for the loss of normal lung function. At this stage, more medication can help to reduce symptoms of breathlessness and anxiety related to it. Most people with MND become increasingly drowsy before falling into a deep sleep, where they usually die peacefully.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It cannot currently be cured, but treatment can often help manage it.
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
There are lots of possible symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Everyone with the condition is affected differently.
Some of the most common symptoms include:
feeling extremely tired (fatigue)
problems with your eyes or your vision, such as blurred vision or eye pain
numbness or a tingling feeling in different parts of the body
feeling off balance, dizzy or clumsy (uncoordinated)
muscle cramps, spasms and stiffness
needing to pee more often or not being able to control when you pee
problems with memory or concentration
sexual problems, including a dry vagina or erection problems
Symptoms may come (called "flare-ups" or "relapses") and go (called "remissions"), and may get worse over time.
Against the odds
Now that we understand more about the challenges Marcus faces daily, lets hear his take on fighting against the odds to make it in a start up with disabilities.
Let’s be real here. Navigating the startup world is tough for anyone - it’s a 24/7, 365-day grind with only a small percentage achieving success. There is a reason why many founders burn out, and their families bear the weight and sacrifices just as much. It’s really tough. Add a disability—in my case being chair- or bedridden, breathing on a CPAP machine most of the day, with 24hr care— it can feel insurmountable and very lonely.
But I’m here to tell you: it is possible and well worth it. Reinventing myself and rewiring my brain has brought back a renewed sense of purpose and rekindled the fire in me.
Disability doesn’t define us, instead it shapes our perspective, fostering creativity and resilience. For those facing your own challenges, your dreams and capabilities matter! Our unique perspective is a strength— a sort of superpower. Disability isn’t a limitation; it’s part of what makes us who we are, enhancing our depth & determination.
Disabled Entrepreneur
As a disabled entrepreneur, I realised I have a duty to (hopefully) inspire and drive inclusion in the business world. Inclusion isn’t a buzzword; it’s essential for creativity, innovation, and belonging. By embracing our differences, we champion authenticity and build a more compassionate business landscape.
Thank you for listening. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by incredible people who’ve inspired and lifted me up to go above & beyond, I hope everyone can find that special someone to walk alongside on their journey.
References
Motor neurone disease (MND) NHS Inform
Multiple sclerosis
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/multiple-sclerosis/ 16/12/2024
Comments