AN East End mum has published her first book recording her ongoing battle against multiple sclerosis.

More than a decade ago, Patricia Gachagan was overjoyed when she discovered she was to become a mum.

But her immune system began attacking itself following the birth of her son Elliot.

Within hours of his birth, her body began to deteriorate causing her to struggle to cope with her declining health and the demands of motherhood.

Patricia had worked as a teacher for 15 years, living and working in London, Barcelona and Glasgow but following the birth of her son she was forced to retire just before her 40th birthday due to ill health.

She was eventually diagnosed as suffering from MS and was told her immune system had attacked itself in error.

Patricia refused to settle for a life of disability and vulnerability and was determined to turn her future around.

As a result, she was rewarded with a new and pioneering treatment researched by Medical Research Scotland and part funded by the Scottish Government enterprise scheme.

She was the first person with MS to test what she describes as the life-changing Robo-Physio device which will be released to the wider public later this year.

Patricia said: "It has shown promising results for my MS symptoms - another message of hope to share far and wide."

As she was unable to work, the new mum turned her attention to her lifelong passion for writing and her first book Born Together will be launched tomorrow at the CCA in Glasgow.

She said: "I have not lived the life of an MS sufferer. I refused to and my book shares my uplifting journey and how I turned around what seemed my destiny.

"My book takes the reader on a bumpy ride but with the most wonderful ups, as well as those uncomfortable downs.

"I want to take my story far and wide that being differently abled does not need to be a sad ending but can in fact be a new beginning, depending on our attitude and how we get up and deal with it."

Her book records her determination to overcome the challenges her illness presented, to live a full life and be a mother to her son.

Born Together will be released in time for World MS Day on May 31.