'MND diagnosis won't stop us making precious memories'

Andrew and Joanna Chadwick said they are learning to cope with a new way of life

A man who has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) at the age of 53 said he and his wife are determined to "live for the future and make so many precious memories".

Andrew Chadwick, from Chorley in Lancashire, was diagnosed with the disease - which can lead to muscle weakness and affect how you walk, talk and eat - four months ago.

He said being told in hospital "was devastating because your life's turned upside down".

His wife Joanna said: "I want Andrew to be proud of me and I'm just going to be positive every single day."

Mr Chadwick said he realised something was wrong during a visit to a physiotherapist.

"She said to me 'do you mind if I get the doctor in?' and the doctor came in and said I'd like to refer you to the neurologist," he said.

"Two weeks later I was diagnosed."

'Split second'

Mrs Chadwick said she "just knew something wasn't right" when the doctor closed the curtains around the hospital bed before breaking the news.

"He said 'we've done all the tests and you've got MND'," she said.

"Then the person I love was sat on the bed crying like a little boy."

"You don't realise in life you take everything for granted like driving your car, going to work, just normal things, and then you realise in a split second your life can change, and when that happens you realise life is precious," she told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"You can't change the past, you live for the future and every day I'm so thankful that I can make so many precious memories with Andrew."

The Lancashire and South Cumbria Motor Neurone Disease Care and Research Centre - based at Royal Preston Hospital - is involved in national and international clinical trials in the hope of discovering better treatments.

Director Professor Suresh Chhetri said the centre serves about 1.8 million people and is "dedicated to providing expert, compassionate and multi-disciplinary care" to patients and their families.

He said "while supporting research in MND is very important, it's not just about finding medical solutions, it's about offering hope to those who don't have it".

Mr Chadwick now uses a wheelchair for longer distances, and said he is learning to cope with a new way of life.

"Life's frustrating because everything you could do in the past, not that long ago, you can't do and I know it's going to get harder," he said.

"You can just sit at home and wait for the inevitable to happen, or get out and do things."