Home
links
MY DAD

My dad

dad_smile.jpg

dad_balloon.jpg

I still miss you Dad! people are taken away from us but memories live forever, our Brent still talks about you I wish you were her to see our Amie

mydadandbrent.jpg

Motor neurone disease is powerless
It cannot cripple love
it cannot shatter hope
it cannot corrode faith
it cannot eat away peace
it cannot distroy confidence
it cannot kill friendship
it cannot shut out memories
it cannot silence courage
it cannot invade the soul

This is the home page of my dad Glen howells who, like his sister, has motor neurone disease aka als or lou gerigs disease. i have made this for you dad.

Motor Neurone Disease [MND] is the name given to a group of diseases in which the nerve cells [neurones] The nerve cells that operate the voluntary muscles known as motor neurons, begin to sicken and die. The muscles atrophy, that is, they waste away.

It will affect ALL voluntary muscles including speech, respiratory, swallowing and even eye movement.

The mind remains unaffected as do the five senses. They are keenly aware of everything that is happening to them and their families.

There are two types of onset, limb or bulbar. Although limb onset is more prevalent in those diagnosed with MND, bulbar onset is displayed in speech, breathing and swallowing symptoms. The bulbar onset often progresses faster.

Symptoms in three motor neuron regions must be displayed before an MND diagnosis can be made, and other disorders eliminated. There is no marker in order to make an exact diagnosis. For this reason, many difficult and often painful tests must be performed to eliminate other possibilities, for which there may be a cure.

There is a familial form of ALS, known as fALS, which runs in families. Approximately 10% of those with ALS have the familial form. However, there is a 50/50 chance of all children born to an fALS patient to also carry the disease. The other 90% of ALS patients are considered sporadic MND.

A very small percentage, less than 5%, may display dementia along with their MND symptoms.People suffering from MND has described it as being

"buried alive".



You are locked inside an hour glass; the grains of sand slowly engulfing you.

You are unable to move your feet, your legs. Time continues to pass and the granules continue to fall. You find yourself unable to move your hands, your arms; you scream for this cascade to stop, but it doesn't stop.

The weight of the sandy avalanche presses against your chest, crushing your lungs; your screams become more desperate, more difficult to hear. And still the dune continues to rise. It covers your mouth, so now, not even a word can be uttered, a thirst quenched, your breaths so very shallow. You wake up.

If you have MND, you woke up only to find the nightmare didn't end. You live this nightmare everyday. Your loved ones trapped outside the vessel unable to rescue you from this ordeal.

Motor Neurone Disease is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease
While a persons mind remains sharp and alert, muscle control becomes completely lost.
It affects nearly 1300 Australians at any one time (235 in Victoria). On average one person dies every day of MND.
Dads fight began in May 2004, this was when we realized just how strong and brave he really was. An amazing and gentle man was now trapped in a body that didnt want him any more. Dads speech went first, he spoke a million words with his eyes though.
Every time I saw him there was a noticeable change in him and an overwhelming frustration that little things he could once do, he couldnt do anymore.
Dad was fiercely independent so for him to depend on everyone annoyed him to say the least.
So with his death comes an enormous amount of relief, he is finally free of the body that didnt want him anymore.
It is because of this I will never think of his passing as a bad thing,
I will never feel that I am without him and I will never give up the hope of a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.
I love you dad







dadandme.jpg

dad1.jpg

welcome to the tribute site of my dad

brent_peakaboo.jpg

My friend Jackie and her dog Zac
jacandzac.jpg

jillyanddad.jpg

Subscribe to Motor_Neurone_Disease
Powered by au.groups.yahoo.com

Motor Neurone Disease Association of Victoria oztion shop

Losing My Voice!- living with motor neurone disease

Losing My Voice! is not only a "cannot put down" story, but a very poignant milestone in understanding the human tragedy of this cruelest of diseases. It will have significant impact on sufferers and their loved ones, worldwide.

Never give up, ever