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• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Sue - Interview 31 >> Her hospice is a place of kindness, giving practical and emotional support, including home visits, advice on benefits and making a Living Will. [Voice

Sue was diagnosed with bulbar onset motor neurone disease less than a year ago (2006). She is now unable to speak and uses a laptop with voice software. Her arms and legs are still relatively strong.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Sarah - Interview 21 >> The hospice is a warm and kind place. They helped her draw up a Living Will. She does not want invasive treatment. [Voice software interview].

Sarah was diagnosed 7 years ago when 7 months pregnant with her second baby in 2000. Now she cannot use her arms or walk unaided, and her speech is affected, so she uses voice software to communicate.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 65+ >> Audrey - Interview 02 >> She has made a Living Will and feels it is her right to decide what she wants, whatever her family or friends think. She'd rather be in a hospice than

Audrey first noticed symptoms 11-12 years ago. Diagnosis confirmed three years later (1995). Still living at home with support from a daily carer and respite care in a hospice.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Mike - Interview 23 >> At the moment they don't even want to discuss a Living Will. They're just trying to manage and carry on living normally. [Mike is unable to speak].

Mike was diagnosed with bulbar onset MND 2 years ago in 2005. He is now unable to speak, so was interviewed through his wife Gill. He uses a whiteboard and Lightwriter to communicate. He has a PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy).

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Carers >> Jenny - Interview 01 >> She worried how her father would die and feared he might choke on saliva, but she wants to reassure others that death was very peaceful. She wanted th

Jenny is the daughter of a man who was diagnosed in 2001 with motor neurone disease at the age of 81, and who died 4 months later. He was ill for a year before diagnosis.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PMA (progressive muscular atrophy) >> Judith - Interview 12 >> She feels very positive about life and is upset by media images of MND. In future she may make a Living Will. She would not want resuscitation and wou

Judith was diagnosed with Progressive Muscular Atrophy form of MND two years ago, after consulting two neurologists. Now she uses a wheelchair and mobility scooter.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Marcelin - Interview 37 >> His Living Will states that he does not want any ventilation. He wants those caring for him to let him go slowly and naturally. He does not want to be

Marcelin was diagnosed over three years ago (in 2003), after several years of weakness in his arms, and later his legs. He now uses a wheelchair. His speech is unaffected. He continues to work full-time. (Partner Tess also interviewed, MND44).

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 22 >> Her Living Will protects her children from difficult decisions. You can set out what treatments you want, as well as what you don't want. Press covera

Liz was diagnosed with rare inherited (familial) form of MND 8 years ago (1998). Sixth member of her family to be diagnosed. Has weakness in her arms and legs, and some speech difficulties. Has a PEG but does not use it yet.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Penny - Interview 11 >> A Living Will makes her wishes clear even if she can no longer express them. She wants the best quality of life she can without invasive intervention,

Penny was diagnosed three years ago (2003) with ALS, after having arm weakness, pains and coughing fits for three years. The condition has progressed quite slowly so far.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Carers >> Una & Bill - Interview 49 >> Her husband's Living Will is stored in a special bottle in the fridge. A sticker on the front door alerts the emergency services that it is there. He

Una's husband Bill first noticed symptoms at the end of 2005 and was diagnosed aged 63. A ventilator greatly improved his energy levels for nearly a year. He had a PEG fitted but does not yet use it for feeding.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Carers >> Bev - Interview 47 >> She felt vulnerable till her mother's Living Will was finalised. Staff should raise it as a possibility early on, and support the family in completing

Bev's mother died about a year after developing speech and swallowing difficulties and being diagnosed with bulbar onset MND, aged 72. Her family were unhappy with many aspects of the care received.