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
1385 comments
After losing $450,000 worth of Bitcoin to a scam, I felt completely defeated. I tried several recovery companies over the course of many months, but none delivered results—most only added to my frustration and hopelessness. Then I found Swift Assets Recovery, and everything changed. From the beginning, their team showed genuine professionalism, transparency, and a clear understanding of how crypto scams operate. Unlike the others, they didn’t make empty promises—they took action. They worked tirelessly, kept me informed at every stage, and, most importantly, they succeeded in recovering my stolen Bitcoin. I can’t express how grateful I am for their help. Swift Assets Recovery restored not only my funds but my peace of mind. If you’ve been scammed and feel like you’ve run out of options, don’t give up—Swift Assets Recovery truly delivers. Email:(swiftrecoveryservice006 (@)gmail . com) or WhatsApp number: +1 (352) 436-7955 Or Telegram @SWIFT_HACKING Website https://swiftspyassetsrecovery.com
After doing thorough research, I decided to try Dr. Serony’s herbal remedy for herpes and it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made! I was truly speechless when my doctor confirmed that I was herpes negative 🤩.
If you’re struggling with herpes, HPV, or any other illness, don’t lose hope. Reach out to Dr. Serony today:
📧 Email: doctorserony@gmail.com
💬 Dr Serony Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Drseronyherbalmedicine/
After doing thorough research, I decided to try Dr. Serony’s herbal remedy for herpes and it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made! I was truly speechless when my doctor confirmed that I was herpes negative 🤩.
If you’re struggling with herpes, HPV, or any other illness, don’t lose hope. Reach out to Dr. Serony today:
📧 Email: doctorserony@gmail.com
💬 Dr Serony Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Drseronyherbalmedicine/
After doing thorough research, I decided to try Dr. Serony’s herbal remedy for herpes and it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made! I was truly speechless when my doctor confirmed that I was herpes negative 🤩.
If you’re struggling with herpes, HPV, or any other illness, don’t lose hope. Reach out to Dr. Serony today:
📧 Email: doctorserony@gmail.com
💬 Dr Serony Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Drseronyherbalmedicine/
It’s quite unfortunate how many unlicensed and unregulated crypto investments are being used to steal crypto assets from people who don’t have an idea of how crypto works.
I was once a victim and I’m here to speak out because the pump and dump schemes made me lose $1.2M worth of crypto in November last year, and if I didn’t carry out my research together with the assistance of RecoveryBureauC Service who was able to help me withdraw my crypto after it was frozen in their crypto investment platform, my crypto assets would have been gone forever. RecoveryBureauC Cyber Service detected their price was artificially inflated only to have it drop, this is usually done to cheat customers out of their hard-earned money. If you are ever in need of a professional and reliable crypto assets recovery specialist, RecoveryBureauC Service is the best. You can rest assured that your privacy and security are protected, everything is done professionally and both parties are protected. My crypto was recovered successfully and RecoveryBureauC has since then improved my security, and secured my account from any future financial loss. You can contact them via
WhatsApp: +1 (763 898-2440)
Email: RecoveryBureauC @ gmail, c0m