SON PAYS TRIBUTE TO MUM AFTER MND BATTLE
would maximise every minute that she had with her family.”
David has written a moving and frank blog for MND Scotland, the charity which supported Christine and her family as they struggled to come to terms with her condition.
Next year, the 37-year-old pilot, who lives in Bridge of Weir with his wife Lynsey, five-year-old son Reid and daughter Elise, 3, plans to take on his biggest fundraising challenge yet – a punishing 30mile trek through the Himalayas.
“MND Scotland talked us through so many things that would help us as a family, from welfare benefits to counselling services,” says David.
Christine and her husband Phelim regularly attended local MND meet-ups.
“My mum was quite nervous about going to the first one, but she received a very warm welcome,” adds David. “She quickly appreciated the benefit of the advice shared, the comfort in knowing that she was not in this alone, and ultimately she made many great friends there.”
Christine, long-term Glasgow airport employee, accomplished flower-arranger (with her own business) and keen golfer, was determined to continue living life to the full post-diagnosis, says her son.
“My parents had several foreign holidays, discovering hotels and accommodations that were specially equipped for people with mobility issues, we had wonderful family breaks in the MND Scotland caravan and lodge in
Oban and St Andrews respectively and my mum continued to play golf long after her diagnosis, getting her clubs adapted with arthritic grips to prolong her ability to play,” says David.
“As a family, we were trying to stay a step ahead of the condition.”
One of the first things Christine did was to ‘bank’ her voice, recording different phrases and words into a computer which were then processed and turned into a voice file.
“It meant my mum could speak with her own voice for the rest of her life,” says David. “My mum saw every aspect of MND as a hurdle to be leapt over, and a challenge to be overcome. Her positivity and lust for life was evident to everyone she met. Caring for her was a pleasure… she was always smiling and laughing.”
Two years after Christine’s diagnosis, Phelim – who had recently retired and cared for his wife on a full-time basis – was diagnosed with a malignant stage four brain tumour.
“It came as a complete shock to us all, as my dad was such a pillar of strength,” says David. “He had surgery straight away, then radiotherapy. Unfortunately, the cancer was very aggressive, and just over six months later he