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
1404 comments
Hello I’m Joseph, a software engineer from Seattle. A few months ago, I lost $250,000 in Bitcoin to a phishing attack. I was devastated and had little hope of recovery until I found Astraweb. From the start, their team stood out for their professionalism and expertise in blockchain forensics and legal recovery. They clearly explained the process and used advanced tools to track the stolen funds across multiple wallets and exchanges. Astraweb coordinated with global partners, kept me informed, and stayed focused on results. Thanks to their efforts, I recovered the full $250,000. What felt like a hopeless situation turned into a real success. If you’ve lost Bitcoin to scams or hacks, I highly recommend Astraweb. They can help bring your lost funds back home.
Contact them at Astraweb@cyberdude.com
BEST ONLINE SPELL CASTER TO SOLVE ALL YOUR MARITAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WITH 100% GUARANTEED RESULTS CONTACT DR SARUMAN: WHATSAPP: +447477869404 OR EMAIL: PERFECTSOLUTIONTEMPLES@GMAIL.COM DR SARUMAN IS CERTAINLY THE BEST SPELL CASTER AND HIS RESULT IS 100% GUARANTEED.
My name is Rhiannon Van Ross, Early this year when I first contacted you I was 1 year into a bitter divorce battle with my husband. I thought that my marriage and family were ruined. I found your site and breathed a sigh of relief although I really didn’t know how it worked. Not only did your Stop Divorce love spell work super fast for me, but you and your circle were there to help me and counsel me through every step of the process. You have helped me so much and I am happy to update you on our progress. My husband and I have reconciled and have since renewed our vows. We are stronger than ever. I am so happy that you were able to help me keep my family intact. Without you, I am not sure what I would have done. IT WORKED FOR ME. Now I have my man back to me and he is fully faithful and dedicated to our marriage. Thank you Dr. Saruman because your spell has finally made me and my husband reunited again. Are you out there experiencing some problems in your marriage, You can reach him on his contact details, Website:https://perfectsolutiontemple.weebly.com https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bdAy8QgDnZeQA3hnsQeYppZGqC2KYYUYKn4yZiiMXxAiyEmBRsP1v7bvJEmqnVd5l&id=61560420964460 Email: perfectsolutiontemples@gmail.com or you can chat him directly on his WhatsApp “+447477869404” or
https://wa.me/message/3NZXKYM72HSZO1 Youtube: https://youtu.be/wv5jF27EKIs
You can reach him for the following spell work:
MONEY RITUAL MAKE YOUR LOVER LOVE YOU MORE WIN EX BACK FRUIT OF THE WOMB PROMOTION SPELL REVENGE SPELL BUSINESS SPELL GOOD JOB SPELL LOTTERY SPELL COURT CASEBEST ONLINE SPELL CASTER TO SOLVE ALL YOUR MARITAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WITH 100% GUARANTEED RESULTS CONTACT DR SARUMAN: WHATSAPP: +447477869404 OR EMAIL: PERFECTSOLUTIONTEMPLES@GMAIL.COM DR SARUMAN IS CERTAINLY THE BEST SPELL CASTER AND HIS RESULT IS 100% GUARANTEED.
My name is Rhiannon Van Ross, Early this year when I first contacted you I was 1 year into a bitter divorce battle with my husband. I thought that my marriage and family were ruined. I found your site and breathed a sigh of relief although I really didn’t know how it worked. Not only did your Stop Divorce love spell work super fast for me, but you and your circle were there to help me and counsel me through every step of the process. You have helped me so much and I am happy to update you on our progress. My husband and I have reconciled and have since renewed our vows. We are stronger than ever. I am so happy that you were able to help me keep my family intact. Without you, I am not sure what I would have done. IT WORKED FOR ME. Now I have my man back to me and he is fully faithful and dedicated to our marriage. Thank you Dr. Saruman because your spell has finally made me and my husband reunited again. Are you out there experiencing some problems in your marriage, You can reach him on his contact details, Website:https://perfectsolutiontemple.weebly.com https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bdAy8QgDnZeQA3hnsQeYppZGqC2KYYUYKn4yZiiMXxAiyEmBRsP1v7bvJEmqnVd5l&id=61560420964460 Email: perfectsolutiontemples@gmail.com or you can chat him directly on his WhatsApp “+447477869404” or
https://wa.me/message/3NZXKYM72HSZO1 Youtube: https://youtu.be/wv5jF27EKIs
You can reach him for the following spell work:
MONEY RITUAL MAKE YOUR LOVER LOVE YOU MORE WIN EX BACK FRUIT OF THE WOMB PROMOTION SPELL REVENGE SPELL BUSINESS SPELL GOOD JOB SPELL LOTTERY SPELL COURT CASEBEST ONLINE SPELL CASTER TO SOLVE ALL YOUR MARITAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WITH 100% GUARANTEED RESULTS CONTACT DR SARUMAN: WHATSAPP: +447477869404 OR EMAIL: PERFECTSOLUTIONTEMPLES@GMAIL.COM DR SARUMAN IS CERTAINLY THE BEST SPELL CASTER AND HIS RESULT IS 100% GUARANTEED.
My name is Rhiannon Van Ross, Early this year when I first contacted you I was 1 year into a bitter divorce battle with my husband. I thought that my marriage and family were ruined. I found your site and breathed a sigh of relief although I really didn’t know how it worked. Not only did your Stop Divorce love spell work super fast for me, but you and your circle were there to help me and counsel me through every step of the process. You have helped me so much and I am happy to update you on our progress. My husband and I have reconciled and have since renewed our vows. We are stronger than ever. I am so happy that you were able to help me keep my family intact. Without you, I am not sure what I would have done. IT WORKED FOR ME. Now I have my man back to me and he is fully faithful and dedicated to our marriage. Thank you Dr. Saruman because your spell has finally made me and my husband reunited again. Are you out there experiencing some problems in your marriage, You can reach him on his contact details, Website:https://perfectsolutiontemple.weebly.com https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bdAy8QgDnZeQA3hnsQeYppZGqC2KYYUYKn4yZiiMXxAiyEmBRsP1v7bvJEmqnVd5l&id=61560420964460 Email: perfectsolutiontemples@gmail.com or you can chat him directly on his WhatsApp “+447477869404” or
https://wa.me/message/3NZXKYM72HSZO1 Youtube: https://youtu.be/wv5jF27EKIs
You can reach him for the following spell work:
MONEY RITUAL MAKE YOUR LOVER LOVE YOU MORE WIN EX BACK FRUIT OF THE WOMB PROMOTION SPELL REVENGE SPELL BUSINESS SPELL GOOD JOB SPELL LOTTERY SPELL COURT CASEBEST ONLINE SPELL CASTER TO SOLVE ALL YOUR MARITAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WITH 100% GUARANTEED RESULTS CONTACT DR SARUMAN: WHATSAPP: +447477869404 OR EMAIL: PERFECTSOLUTIONTEMPLES@GMAIL.COM DR SARUMAN IS CERTAINLY THE BEST SPELL CASTER AND HIS RESULT IS 100% GUARANTEED.
My name is Rhiannon Van Ross, Early this year when I first contacted you I was 1 year into a bitter divorce battle with my husband. I thought that my marriage and family were ruined. I found your site and breathed a sigh of relief although I really didn’t know how it worked. Not only did your Stop Divorce love spell work super fast for me, but you and your circle were there to help me and counsel me through every step of the process. You have helped me so much and I am happy to update you on our progress. My husband and I have reconciled and have since renewed our vows. We are stronger than ever. I am so happy that you were able to help me keep my family intact. Without you, I am not sure what I would have done. IT WORKED FOR ME. Now I have my man back to me and he is fully faithful and dedicated to our marriage. Thank you Dr. Saruman because your spell has finally made me and my husband reunited again. Are you out there experiencing some problems in your marriage, You can reach him on his contact details, Website:https://perfectsolutiontemple.weebly.com https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bdAy8QgDnZeQA3hnsQeYppZGqC2KYYUYKn4yZiiMXxAiyEmBRsP1v7bvJEmqnVd5l&id=61560420964460 Email: perfectsolutiontemples@gmail.com or you can chat him directly on his WhatsApp “+447477869404” or
https://wa.me/message/3NZXKYM72HSZO1 Youtube: https://youtu.be/wv5jF27EKIs
You can reach him for the following spell work:
MONEY RITUAL MAKE YOUR LOVER LOVE YOU MORE WIN EX BACK FRUIT OF THE WOMB PROMOTION SPELL REVENGE SPELL BUSINESS SPELL GOOD JOB SPELL LOTTERY SPELL COURT CASE