We’re going through this together – and my wife helps too

Couple coping with illness are spurred on by pet

Spike is a 17-year-old cat needing daily medication – and the unlikely inspiration for a man living with a debilitating illness.

Mark Styles, 49, of Riverside in Chartham, was diagnosed in 2010 with Kennedy’s syndrome – a type of motor neurone disease.

Kennedy’s is a genetically inherited disease, which causes progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles.

It is a rare condition which affects 1 person in 40,000.

“The fact that it is slowly progressive is helpful because you become aware that you can’t do as much as you used to – you’ve almost got time to adapt,” Mark, a former Kent County Council education manager, said.

“I’d had symptoms for quite some time like losing my balance, lack of co-ordination, weakness and strange things happening.

“The disease comes with its own problems. I’m in a wheelchair most of the time. It causes difficulties with swallowing, breathing – anything where your brain controls your muscles.”

Mark says his 17-year-old cat has provided support to him and his wife, Katy, through the tough times.

“He’s extremely friendly and he knows when something is up. Spike has had his problems and he’s a constant companion. I sleep downstairs and he is always with me.”

“Spike has to have daily medication and it’s my motivation to get up in the morning to do it.

“We both toddle around the house slowly but we are going through this together.”

Katy, a former teacher at Rainham School for Girls, said: “He reminds us of all the good points in the day and makes you live in the moment, as you can’t really think about the future with this disease.”

Spike has been shortlisted for an award after being named as a finalist in Cats Protection’s National Cat Awards.

Mark had to retire in 2014 from his job at KCC, and his Katy had to give up teaching to become a full-time carer for her husband.

Katy says Spike’s company is a morale boost for her husband of 25 years.

She said: “He’s a boost – especially on the more difficult days. With both their health problems, they share a close bond and keep each other active. They are inseparable, so if one of them decides to go for a potter in the garden, the other will normally follow.”

The couple campaign regularly for the east Kent branch of Motor Neurone Disease Association, this newspaper’s charity of the year, with regular visits to parliament, local councils and health care organisations.

Mark, a classic car enthusiast, said: “We campaign for people with all types of the disease.

“The point we made at Westminster recently was that if you have a progressive fatal disorder that’s never going to get better and only gets worse, why are you being reassessed for a benefit?

“Because if you’re already getting maximum support from the state, the rules are you can be reassessed but what’s the point, because you’re only going to get worse?”

Katy added: “Our friends, that have the disease and lose the ability to speak and to move, are amazing people, and we feel we have to keep raising awareness and making it obvious to other people what difficulties everybody faces.”

Motor Neurone Disease Association is this month promoting an Awareness Month campaign.

Vote for Spike on June 30 by visiting www.facebook.com/ catsprotection. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on August 3 at London’s Savoy Hotel

Katy and Mark Styles with their cat Spike who has been nominated for national award