Philip Bourdon's fight against MND

 

This time last year Philip, then 33, was a hard-working dad, loving husband to Stephenie and father to two beautiful children, then aged 5 and 1. Little did they know what was about to hit them. Whilst Covid 19 was slowly having a terrible effect on, and devastating, so many lives, it was a different disease that was to crash into our world. ALS also known as Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is an uncommon and ultimately fatal disease. Most usually affecting older people although as we have found with Philip it can affect any age.
 

With MND, messages from the brain gradually stop reaching the muscles. The muscles weaken and affect, mobility, speech, eating and breathing and currently has no cure. You may be familiar with the stories of  sports personalities, whose own stories have been followed by the BBC recently.   Whilst we remain hopeful that one of the many research programmes and drug trials will work, for now our aim is to help Philip and his family live the best life they can. 
 

Philip's health is deteriorating, his speech is slurred and his mobility has decreased significantly leaving him reluctant to leave the house even for essential reasons. Life would be hard enough but the Covid lockdown has added a further cruel blow isolating him from the support of family and friends. Further strain is caused by their home being unsuitable for his changing needs. Stephenie is a care home worker and is trying to continue to work a few hours a week, to help earn some income, whilst caring for her family. Emotionally and financially their life is difficult but they are both facing life headlong, as positively as possible, dedicated to each other and their children.


If you can help by giving even the smallest amount this will be spent on things to make their lives a little easier, equipment for the home and travel and, as soon as the government allows, on days out and hopefully a holiday on which to make lasting memories and finally to add some security for the family.

 
We will separately be making a donation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Increasing the awareness and understanding of MND is vitally important.  If you are interested in finding out more about this disease or the work of the Motor Neurone Disease Association please see www.mndassociation.org