‘WE TRY TO REMEMBER WE’RE STILL HUSBAND AND WIFE’
Cath Muir, 59, lives in Eppleby, North Yorkshire, with her husband Ian, 63. They have two grown-up sons. In 2014, Cath was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and Ian became her full-time carer.
Until 2013, I was fit and healthy, working 40 hours a week running our tearooms and exercising regularly. But when I began suffering from weakness in my legs and started stumbling more and more, tests revealed I had motor neurone disease. It was a huge shock.
I’d assumed Ian and I would grow old together, so to be told that I had a terminal illness that would progress quickly was really devastating.
By 2016, the muscles in my legs had weakened to the point I could hardly walk and we were forced to sell the tearooms. Instead, we installed a wheelchair-friendly kitchen and I was able to start a small catering business. Slowly, my arm-and-hand function decreased further, so Ian cut down his hours in his job in agriculture, and last year he retired. Luckily, we live in a bungalow – but, each day, Ian carries me to the shower chair and helps me dress. He helps me with household tasks and gets me to and from the loo.
Last November, I had a feeding tube fitted, but I haven’t yet had to use it. Ian is so brilliant. When I married him in 1982, I knew we’d be married for life, but
I couldn’t have known what a lovely, caring husband he really would be.
He never leaves me on my own for more than an hour and I know it’s had a huge effect on his life, too. We’ve both lost our independence, but we try to keep a brave face and take each day as it comes. It’s important to remember we’re husband and wife, not just patient and carer, so we still cuddle up and have movie nights. We don’t know how long I have left and I still hope they’ll find a cure. But, for now, I’m making the most of the time with my husband. I feel so lucky to have found him, he really is my everything.
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