Life has a way of giving you a massive reality check at times though doesn't it?
On Friday I was told that Val Franklin had passed away, then on Sunday we found out that Rob Burrow had lost his battle against the disease. A stark reminder that at present there is only one winner when MND is involved.
I'm guessing that some of you reading this may well have known Val and so are fully aware of the lovely person she was. I first met her next to the 18th green at Rushcliffe Golf Club, as we waited for a group of ladies to finish a '72 holes in a day challenge'. Raising money for Stand Against MND. Val was one of the first people I'd met in person who also had MND. At that time I was visibly more advanced in my progression than Val, in my powered wheelchair and reliant on my ventilator. A casual observer would never have known we had the same illness.
Val would later tell me that she found that first meeting quite difficult. Looking at me was frightening, like seeing what the future could hold. To their enormous credit, Val and her husband Pete agreed to come over for a cup of tea to pick my brains about my journey. Nobody ever warns you about the mountains of admin that come with a degenerative disease, and if you don't keep up with it at your end you might not get the help you need. I'd been through a lot of it and I hope had a few useful tips.
Opening up and wanting that information takes immense courage. It shows in my view an acceptance of your circumstances, and a determination to make the most of the time you have. I'm so pleased that Val and I shared that outlook.
You would never have known what we were discussing based on the amount of laughter in the room. I was left with that familiar feeling of confusion as to why MND seems to attack such lovely people.
Val and her family became and remain stellar supporters of the charity, and I would frequently see them at the monthly golf club quizgo (highly recommended if you enjoy trivia and are of course willing to donate any winnings to a local charity...)* Val always had a smile and a chat whilst Pete always had a one liner at the ready.
*Not compulsory
Over time we saw each other less and less as we both found spending time out and about more challenging, until I heard the news last Friday. RIP Val, it was lovely to know you. All my love to the Franklin family.
A life with MND, particularly when you are integrated with patient communities on line and in person, means that losing people is tragically a frequent occurrence. A consistent reminder of your own proximity to death.
So how to react to such sobering news on such a regular basis? I remember I am alive. I have opportunity. I love. I laugh, I strive, I experience. In Vals honour, in Robs honour, for all the fallen warriors I've lost along the way,
I will live the most significant life I can muster.
Nothing else matters
1654 comments
I was told there is No Herpes Cure except treatment to control it. I totally lost hope all i could think was loosing my life because it was so embarrassing to have this virus. A few weeks ago I read about a possible natural cure which was 100 percent guaranteed. And I ordered the treatment from Dr Uma. And I also told him about my sister’s cancer, After some weeks we got 100% cured. Now I’m so excited to share this testimony to every article for others living with HERPES, CANCER, PENIS ENLARGEMENT, HPV,HIV, etc. there is possible natural treatment to eliminate this virus. Email him for more info! Dr.umaherbalcenter@gmail.com or message him on WhatsApp +2347035619585.
Herpes is a serious and recurring disease which can’t be cured through drugs or injections by the American doctors but the best way to deal with herpes is by taking natural herbal medicine for it, and is only few American doctors that know about this herbal medicine, from Dr Uma.. I have read about Dr Uma the great herbalist doctor from African who can cure Herpes with his herbal medicine. for the people suffering from the following diseases Hiv, Herpes, Cancer, Herpatitis B, Diabetes, Hpv, Infections ETC should contact him for his herbal medicine because i am a living testimony and i was cured of HERPES. Although, i sent him what he requested and he sent me his medicine which i took for three weeks and when i went for test i was tested Herpes Negative. you can reach him through his email address:Dr.umaherbalcenter@gmail.com or Whatsapp +2347035619585 Thanks Dr Uma.
Hi everyone, I want to share my herpes journey with you. I’ve heard people say there’s no cure or treatment, but I’m here to say that’s not true! I was diagnosed with herpes a few years ago and searched desperately for a solution. A friend recommended Dr.Akuza, an herbal doctor who helped me with an herbal treatment. Just a month later, the herpes was gone! I took multiple tests, and everything came back negative. I’m sharing this because it might help someone. If you’re struggling with herpes, contact Dr.Akuza for information about his herbal cure. : drakuzasolutioncenter@gmail.com or you can call or whatsApp his mobile number +2348114598686
It’s an honor to share my testimony with the world. You merit all the accolades that mention you. Lord Meduza has been a gift to me since our meeting online. He is the only one that knows everything about creating spells. I adore him immensely for his kindness, compassion, integrity, and the support he offers to everyone who interacts with him. Without Lord Meduza, I wouldn’t have survived this difficult situation. His magic turned me into a Lottery winner of £177 Million Pounds, transforming my entire life into something beautiful and extraordinary. The numbers he provided for the lottery were transformative, elevating me from grass to grace, and I want to express my eternal gratitude to him. Thank you, sir, for being a source of help to those in need. Anyone who reads this article that requires assistance can reach him via his Email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com or WhatsApp: +1 807 907 2687 as he is unmatched in crafting spells.
Two months ago, I had been a victim of a bitcoin scam, a con artist gained access to my cash app account and stole $267,700. I was really devastated. I tried on my own to see if I could get it back. I went online read articles on how I can recover my bitcoin back, it did not go well. I went to YouTube to see if someone talked about how one can recover their finds but that too did not go well. Within my research, I came across testimonials about RecoveryHacker101 on how they help and have helped a lot of people recover their bitcoins and how a lot of people have also refereed them to others. I immediately got in touch with them and explained my situation to them and assured me they will help get my Bitcoin back. I decided to give them a try and they definitely did a great job; all my money was recovered back into my new wallet account in a few days. I’m writing this to inform anyone who has had similar issues to open a case with RecoveryHacker101 via email on recoveryhacker101(at)gmail(dot)com. I luckily escaped what ought to have destroyed me financially, you too can escape it.