After being diagnosed with MS in her early forties, Hannah Webster found herself navigating a world of uncertainty, resilience, and reinvention. What began as a personal battle evolved into a powerful story of strength – one that recently led her to an unexpected stage in the world of adaptive sport.
Rebuilding after ms and hsct
Three years ago, I was bald, broken, and bedbound — a body in limbo after HSCT (haematopoietic stem cell transplant) and a mind spiralling with questions. I’d just rolled the dice on a last-chance treatment for multiple sclerosis, after years of fatigue, foot drop, and silent symptoms eroding who I thought I was.
I was 42. Diagnosed at 40. A runner, a wife, a marathoner-turned-mystery case watching her nervous system go rogue. MS had pulled the rug — slowly, then all at once. From pacing races to pacing the hallway with a walking stick. From independence to instability. From chasing PBs to chasing answers. HSCT wasn’t a miracle. But it was a hard reset. A brutal, brilliant chance to rebuild… and rebuild I did.
Beyond MS: rising to the Adsptive Crossfit Games
Fast-forward to now: I’ve just qualified for the 2025 Adaptive CrossFit Games Finals in Las Vegas, competing in the Neuromuscular Major Female category. I still live with MS. My right side’s glitchy, my foot’s lazy, and my energy’s unpredictable at best. But I’m lifting. I’m training. I’m showing up — for myself, for my community, and for anyone who’s ever been told to lower their expectations.
CrossFit gave me back a version of power MS tried to take. Not just muscle — but momentum, purpose, and pride. It’s become a space where disability isn’t weakness, it’s data. Adaptation is strategy. And strength isn’t just in reps, it’s in rising – over and over again.
None of this would’ve been possible without the work of organisations like AIMS, which supported me through the decision to pursue HSCT. Their advocacy, information, and community changed everything. So I’m sharing this for anyone lying in a hospital bed right now, scared they’ll never feel strong again.
You don’t have to end up on a CrossFit podium. But you will find your version of victory.
Still here. Still standing. Still fighting — on my terms.
Follow the chaos on Instagram: @hannahjweb
If you’ve navigated life with MS, tried HSCT, or found strength through sport or adaptation, we’d love to hear from you. Share your journey – because every story helps someone else find their way. Tell us your experiences in the comments box, on social media or contact us to share your personal story.