Kitty's battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND)

My name is Amy Kearney, I am writing this on behalf of My Mam Catherine (Kitty) Kearney. My mam was diagnosed with Bulbar Onset Motor Neurone Disease on 5th March 2024, the day our world was turned upside down.

For those of you who do not know what Motor Neurone Disease is; it is a Neurological disease that involves your immune system killing off the neurons that carry the messages from the brain to the nervous system to activate the voluntary muscles such as arms, legs etc. Motor Neurones control muscle activities like Walking, Speaking, Swallowing and Breathing. At the moment, there is no cure for MND. However, there are treatments to try and reduce the impact it has on a persons daily life.

My mam is a 68 year old woman with 5 children Amy, Sabrina, Jonathan, Jason and a son with Down Syndrome Tony. She was a Carer all her life with The Irish Wheelchair Association and The Carers Association until she retired after getting Cervical Cancer. She's a survivor 9 years this year.

Fundraising appeal

I don't think we can ever put into words, the feelings, the despair, the fear upon hearing that news on 5th March. Since then and over the last couple of weeks, the enormity of what this means for my mam and us as a family and the challenges we will all face as this cruel disease takes hold is starting to become a reality. A reality we cannot hide or escape from but one we must meet head on by being brave together as a family and by allowing our family, friends and wider community to help in whatever way they can. Anyone that knows our mam will know that she will approach this disease like she did with battling cervical cancer and everything in life so far, believing nothing is impossible. Our hope for cure one day will keep us going. But for now, trying to slow down the progression of MND through various medical treatments, trials and looking after Mam's mental health and wellbeing is important.

Since the diagnosis she has maintained a positive outlook, with the support of her Family and Friends. However, Funds are required to aid her battle.

We have decided to set up this GoFundMe page for people to donate to help her with possible treatments abroad to sustain quality of life, eventual aids that will be needed for our home and transport etc. It will help us enjoy the time we have together without worrying about day to day financial issues

What it will mean for us to get this support from everyone to give mam all the help she needs and deserves.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read and donate

All of our Love

The Kearney Family

xx