MND: Father fundraises for Doddie Weir charity after diagnosis
- Published
Mark with wife Steph and children Archie and Niamh
The wife of a man with motor neurone disease has described his diagnosis as his "darkest days".
Mark Williams, from Abertillery, was diagnosed with MND 18 months ago after he began experiencing slurred speech and muscle twitching.
MND is a debilitating condition that affects the brain and nerves, and there is currently no cure.
His wife, Steph, says Mark now plans to raise money and awareness for the condition.
Father-of-two Mark, 39, worked as a child therapist and Steph says talking was a big part of his job.
He knew something was wrong when his speech started to change.
Steph says her husband Mark feared his condition was terminal
"The doctor's first thought it was acid reflux laryngitis and sent us away with medication for that," Steph said.
"But Mark knew deep down something wasn't right. But we put it down to stress.
"People kept asking if he'd had a drink because of his speech."
His physiotherapist noticed his reflexes had changed and advised Mark to go for an MRI scan, which he did privately to avoid a six-to-nine month NHS waiting list, and he was diagnosed with MND.
Steph described the nine months between the initial symptoms and diagnosis as the hardest time.
"He was just thinking he had a terminal illness and Mark was adamant it was MND. He was so upset because of the impact it would have on us as a family rather than himself.
"Mark was the breadwinner, the planner, he was everything and all that was stripped away and that's a tough pill to swallow."
While the condition mainly affects people in their 60s and 70s, MND can be diagnosed in people of any age.
"When we finally got the diagnosis. Mark shook the consultant's hand and said thank you because he knew, and the wait was over."
Mark Williams was initially diagnosed with reflux but he suspected something more serious
Mark decided to begin fundraising for Doddie Aid which was set up in the name of former Scotland rugby international Doddie Weir, who died or MND at the age of 52.
Mark has also been recording phrases with his own voice to use with speech-generating communication devices, known as voice banking.
"We didn't have time to be sad, because Mark was doing the fundraising and voice banking."
Doddie Aid has raised more than £4m for MND research in three years, and Mark completed 700 miles on his exercise bike last year for the foundation and hopes to do 200 miles this month.
Mark has completed hundreds of miles on his exercise bike for Doddie Aid
"I feel like we've got to keep on with Doddie's work and taking on that baton," Steph said.
After Mark's condition progressed, Steph finished working to become a full-time carer for her husband.
She said: "I have my bad days. I do find it hard mentally and physically. I say to Mark if I am having a bad day mentally, he says you carry on and get it out of your system.
"I'm the driving force now and the glue keeping this family together.
"The moment I want to give up I look at Mark and the children and think we have so much to look forward to."
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