In March 1997, she was diagnosed to be suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (“MS”). She was then experiencing chronic fatigue and a loss of balance that affected her ability to walk. She took six weeks sick leave and then returned to work but was relieved of other than sedentary tasks. At the beginning of May, due only to a lack of funding, she was given notice that her position would be terminated effective the end of July. She negotiated a paid leave in lieu of working notice (her salary continued) and then some weeks later took a position as a doctor’s receptionist where she worked from mid-August until the end of the year by which time her health had deteriorated to the point that she was unable to work at all.