Motor Neurone Disease is devastating. Absolutely devastating. Mum started to feel unwell in October 2013, with simple cold and flu symptoms. This led to chest infections and pneumonia, unknown to us at the time Motor Neurone was already weakening the muscles in Mums respiratory system. Her speech became affected and after several visits to respiratory doctors and neurosurgeons we were given a diagnosis of MND in June 2014. By this time, Mum was unable to walk unaided, and had lost the ability to speak. She used a dry-wipe board to talk to us and rang a bell to get our attention. She was fitted with a feeding tube, and we administered all feed and medication this way. 

In a very short space of time, Mum was wheelchair bound, and then bed bound, needing our 24 hour care and relying on us for everything. It was heartbreaking to see her decline so rapidly, losing all of her independence, and unable to enjoy the simplest things in life that she had only a few short months before. What she never lost, right to the end was her sense of humour and enjoyment of her grandchildrens company. We lost her 5 months after diagnosis on 27th November 2014. 

From diagnosis, MND Scotland were with us every step of the way. Laura, our specialist nurse, offering advice and support, through clinics and home visits (bearing in mind she is one of only seven MND nurses, with almost 500 currently diagnosed patients) Nicola, welfare and benefits advisor who helped us fill in a scary amount of forms, and pointed us in the direction of a wee grant that allowed us one final caravan holiday together. And they co-ordinated Mums at home care team including district nurses, speech and language therapist, OTs, physios, GP and palliative care. All of which would have completely overwhelmed us without their help and guidance.

So..... Long story short, this a fantastic charity that is very close to our hearts and we are very proud to support.

Please give what you can xxxx