The Jeremy Vine Show - Feature on MND
This Hospice Care Week, Tara, whose husband Andrew is living with Motor Neurone Disease, went on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 (Monday 6th October), and described the care and support they both receive at Saint Francis Hospice as a ‘lifeline.’
The show featured the news about retired rugby union player, Lewis Moody MBE revealing on BBC Breakfast that he has motor neurone disease and the impact the diagnosis has had on him and his family.
This prompted Jeremy Vine to ask listeners ‘how do you deal with the worst medical news a person can get?
Tara, who is Andrew’s carer, called in to share her story, saying: “My heart really goes out to Lewis Moody and his family and all families affected by this disease.
“Andrew was diagnosed in December 2023, aged 59. It was absolutely devastating. He was very fit. He was a runner, he did the London Marathon and we were playing tennis together.
“His symptoms started about 12-18 months before he was diagnosed. His was shortness of breath. So, when he was playing tennis, he would get shortness of breath. They (doctors) thought maybe it was asthma or long covid. Then he started to get radical weight loss.... He was 6ft 2 and he was 13 stone. They (doctors) suspected it was cancer, and he had a lot of tests to rule out anything else.
“It was like throwing a hand grenade within the family. It is a living bereavement because you are coming to terms with the shock of the diagnosis and but also day to day living and helping your loved one to come to terms with that. But also that everything starts changing, and quite rapidly in my husband’s case.”
Andrew attends the Neuro Group at the hospice, a monthly support group for people with neurological conditions. The couple also receive counselling.
Tara praised Saint Francis Hospice for helping her and Andrew to cope and took the opportunity to raise awareness of the care and support the hospice provides.
“The MND Association has been fantastic for information on their website. I also wanted to say a big thank you to our Saint Francis Hospice in Havering, Essex. A lot of people misunderstand hospices and think they are just for end-of-life care. But we’ve actually been involved with them since 2023. They offer so many support groups, alternative therapies, and counselling. They have been an absolute lifeline for us.”
To listen to the interview, (which starts at 1:24:20) click on the link - Jeremy Vine - House buying and bad artists - BBC Sounds
