Michael McDaid
Michael's Walled City Marathon 2014 page
Fundraising for ME Support Northern Ireland
Story
On 1st June I will be attempting to run my first marathon and am hoping to raise money for ME Support NI. As many of you know my brother Paul has been suffering from this horrific illness for almost 2 years and we as a family had no idea how debilitating the illness was and continues to be.
For those of you who, like me, knew very little about ME, it is a spectrum of illnesses that can strike anyone at anytime. ME has been described by independent studies as causing more functional severity than any other chronic illness known. Sufferers are often left bed bound, unable to communicate and unable to tolerate any stimulation sometimes for years on end. The disease is poorly understood and there is very little treatment or support available. Northern Ireland is currently the worst place in the British Isles to be struck down with ME. Patients are routinely abandoned by the health service and benefits agencies due to lack of funding and lack of understanding. Often sufferers can become isolated, unable to look after themselves in extreme distress and can become suicidal. By raising awareness and funds we can help get support to those who need it most and to those who are already working hard to address the shocking state of ME care in Northern Ireland.
Paul was diagnosed in the autumn of 2012. He was a completely healthy, energetic and active 32 year old and had just started his second year of a PHD. As a result of the illness his life and that of his partner Ciara have been completely turned upside down. He has been confined to bed for 18 months and for the most part he has been unable to communicate at all with his family or friends. I actually cannot put into words what Paul has been through both mentally and physically. I will never understand how he has been able to remain positive in the face of such horrifying symptoms. Imagine lying in bed all day every day, unable to speak, listen to music, watch TV, cook, wash or even send a text message. That's the reality of what Paul's been through - lying staring at the same four walls with nothing but his own mind as company.
In the last number of months Paul has been taking very small steps towards some kind of quality of life. We are now resigned to the fact that the road to recovery is a long one. We are confident that Paul's recovery will maintain its momentum and that he will back to himself in months. We are fully aware, however, that it could be years.
The length of his recovery and the recovery of other sufferers can only be shortened with the help of organisations such as ME Support Northern Ireland. The lack of understanding and treatment available for this horrific illness is something that has to be addressed.
Any donations will be hugely appreciated.
For those of you who, like me, knew very little about ME, it is a spectrum of illnesses that can strike anyone at anytime. ME has been described by independent studies as causing more functional severity than any other chronic illness known. Sufferers are often left bed bound, unable to communicate and unable to tolerate any stimulation sometimes for years on end. The disease is poorly understood and there is very little treatment or support available. Northern Ireland is currently the worst place in the British Isles to be struck down with ME. Patients are routinely abandoned by the health service and benefits agencies due to lack of funding and lack of understanding. Often sufferers can become isolated, unable to look after themselves in extreme distress and can become suicidal. By raising awareness and funds we can help get support to those who need it most and to those who are already working hard to address the shocking state of ME care in Northern Ireland.
Paul was diagnosed in the autumn of 2012. He was a completely healthy, energetic and active 32 year old and had just started his second year of a PHD. As a result of the illness his life and that of his partner Ciara have been completely turned upside down. He has been confined to bed for 18 months and for the most part he has been unable to communicate at all with his family or friends. I actually cannot put into words what Paul has been through both mentally and physically. I will never understand how he has been able to remain positive in the face of such horrifying symptoms. Imagine lying in bed all day every day, unable to speak, listen to music, watch TV, cook, wash or even send a text message. That's the reality of what Paul's been through - lying staring at the same four walls with nothing but his own mind as company.
In the last number of months Paul has been taking very small steps towards some kind of quality of life. We are now resigned to the fact that the road to recovery is a long one. We are confident that Paul's recovery will maintain its momentum and that he will back to himself in months. We are fully aware, however, that it could be years.
The length of his recovery and the recovery of other sufferers can only be shortened with the help of organisations such as ME Support Northern Ireland. The lack of understanding and treatment available for this horrific illness is something that has to be addressed.
Any donations will be hugely appreciated.