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
1643 comments
In 2023, I experienced pain around and in my left eye that I thought was inflamed tear glands. One week later, it didn’t get any better, so I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with shingles, not noticing that the red rash was beginning to erupt. The pain spread to my scalp and cheek. I have been recommended to take some medication, but no one was working fast until I went for herbal medicine, and I am cured with the help of drowoherbs@gmail.com
My husband had the habit of always texting and fixing dates with his old friends including his exes. I never thought there was a problem with such until he became emotionally withdrawn from me and started acting abnormal towards me and my daughter. At this point I knew I needed help urgently because I never wanted to loose him. Dr Isikolo came to my rescue and the problem was fixed. One my husband’s ex vowed to ensure she takes him from him and started manipulating him to abandon me and my daughter which would have eventually happened if Dr Isikolo didn’t stepped in to help me. Just as he assured me of the the results after fixing the problem, everything became amazing between me and my husband and now he has apologized for everything and we are good again. Contact Dr Isikolo and believe he will surely fix that problem for you. You can text him directly via WhatsApp him on +2348133261196 or review his website: https://isikolo-temple.com
I was able to regain my husband with the help of Priest AZ love spell after some hot chick turned his head against me and totally stopped giving me attention. Priest. AZ saved my home with his powers and that’s why I’m putting this here for anyone that’s going through the same. Plus do not be fooled by so many testimonies because there is no one like Priest AZ love spell. you can contact him through his email address; MIGHTYLOVESPELL@GMAIL.COM or whatsapp him on: +2349122985051.
Winning the lottery was never something I dreamt of. My name is Charles Coffey, a retired Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). I dedicate more than four decades of my life to Canada’s largest Bank. I served as RBC executive vice president of government affairs and business development before retiring in 2006. But this lottery win gives me the opportunity to sustain and support the causes I have championed for decades. This is the fact concerning my winning. I saw a comment online about how Dr Marcus helped her to win the lottery. I said let me give this a try. I contacted him, we talked and all the necessary things were done. To be honest I never believed in spells. The following week he directed me to go get a ticket, i went to purchase the winning ticket from a shell gas station on Yonge street. the next day i was filling up my car at the gas station when i went inside to grab a chocolate bar and check my lotto max ticket on my surprise i won the top prize in Ontario Lottery of $25,000,000 i thought i won $25,000 but after taking a closer look i realized i miscalculated by three extra zeros, (spell do works i said to myself) I recommend Dr marcus he has the capacity and power to make the impossible, possible. Reach him at drmacusspellcaster@gmail.com or +2348110492028 whatsapp number, hopefully you get a quick response from him.
My symptoms started with unrelenting, excruciating pain in my back, which I thought was muscle spasms. I visited the doctor, and he gave me muscle relaxers and a shot. One week later, I had to go to the emergency room again with severe pain. There, they found the rash and diagnosed shingles after taking the medicine he recommended for me for 7 months. It seems like it is not working, so I went to search for herbal medicine: drowoherbs@gmail.com and I am very happy today, I got rid of it with herbal medicine.