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• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 20-49 >> Kim - Interview 10 >> It was like going through a grieving process after diagnosis, especially when she thought about her children and the grandchildren she'd never see.

Kim was diagnosed with MND (ALS) about a year ago (2005). Now unable to walk she needs help with most daily tasks, but is still working as an occupational therapist and able to drive. Her speech is not affected.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 39 >> Her father did not have the SOD-1 mutation so she did not have genetic testing. She had already been diagnosed before she and her husband would have t

Liz was diagnosed with inherited form of MND in 2004. (Her father and uncle both had MND). Weakness in her legs progressed to her arms; she is now in a wheelchair. Her speech is unaffected.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 22 >> She might not have had children if she'd known she had familial MND, but she's glad she has them. She wants them to have positive memories of her life

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 >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 22 >> So far her children have decided not to be tested for the SOD-1 gene mutation. At the moment neither of them wants children.

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 20-49 >> Michael - Interview 29 >> He wants his children (aged 11 and 9) to enjoy their childhood. They have not told them everything about the condition but they do not lie to them.

Michael was diagnosed less than a year ago in 2006 after noticing weakness in his right arm. His arm weakness remains his main symptom, and it has got worse. Currently he is on sick leave from work.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> 'Speedy' - Interview 19 >> She didn't tell her son (now 13) the name of the condition at first but explained she might need a wheelchair soon. He didn't want to talk about it an

'Speedy' was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) nearly 2 years ago (in 2005) after 2 years of increasing leg weakness. She now uses a wheelchair and a hand-operated car.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 20-49 >> Kim - Interview 10 >> She wanted to protect her children (now 12 and 10) from worrying about it but in the end told them she wouldn't get better. The hardest thing is seein

Kim was diagnosed with MND (ALS) about a year ago (2005). Now unable to walk she needs help with most daily tasks, but is still working as an occupational therapist and able to drive. Her speech is not affected.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 22 >> It was hard having personal care from different carers she didn't know, and tiring explaining everything to each new person. Now she has someone she l

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 >> Carers >> Roger & Luise - Interview 45 >> Roger found strength from somewhere. It was wonderful to see his sons involved in caring for their mother. Parishioners from her church rallied round.

Roger's wife Luise was diagnosed in 2004 aged 59, after a year of weakness in her fingers and leg. Roger and his sons cared for Luise at home until her death in 2006.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> 'Speedy' - Interview 19 >> She thinks she's emotionally quite tough, but every few days she has to cry. It's a combination of frustration, anxiety, loneliness and tiredness.

'Speedy' was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) nearly 2 years ago (in 2005) after 2 years of increasing leg weakness. She now uses a wheelchair and a hand-operated car.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 22 >> She felt direct care payments were too much paperwork. She hates the benefit system and having to explain why she can't work. She lost some of her ben

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 >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> 'Speedy' - Interview 19 >> Tiredness is like a veil coming down. She gets so exhausted if she tries to do more than one thing a day that she feels physically almost uncomfortabl

'Speedy' was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) nearly 2 years ago (in 2005) after 2 years of increasing leg weakness. She now uses a wheelchair and a hand-operated car.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 22 >> She wants to spend every minute she has left living, not worrying. Her children and a sense of humour keep her going. Only when the system breaks down

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 >> 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 20-49 >> Michael - Interview 29 >> Coming to terms with the loss of a future is one of the hardest things, especially not seeing his children into adulthood.

Michael was diagnosed less than a year ago in 2006 after noticing weakness in his right arm. His arm weakness remains his main symptom, and it has got worse. Currently he is on sick leave from work.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - familial/inherited >> Liz - Interview 22 >> She has planned her funeral with the funeral director so her children don't have to worry about it. She was surprised how much detail she needed to co

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 >> Carers >> Harry - Interview 43 >> It is too frightening for him to talk to his wife about what will happen to her in future. His daughter has taken on this responsibility for him.

Harry's wife was diagnosed with bulbar onset MND two and a half years ago. She is now unable to speak. She finds swallowing very difficult, and has a PEG fitted.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Phil - Interview 28 >> He and his wife have had a packed summer. She takes him fishing in his wheelchair, and helps him make toys for their grandsons in his workshop. It's i

Phil was diagnosed just over a year ago, after nearly 2 years of leg weakness. He is still able to walk at home but uses a wheelchair and scooter outdoors. He has some weakness in his right arm.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Stuart - Interview 05 >> He has taken up writing, art, local history and running a community website. He's writing his life story for his grandchildren.

Stuart first noticed symptoms (legs shaking) almost 20 years ago. MND diagnosed 9 years ago (1997), after years of tests and investigations. Now uses a wheelchair.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Phil - Interview 28 >> He doesn't dwell on the condition but it's an opportunity to sort his financial affairs and plan legacies for his grandchildren. He reflects back posi

Phil was diagnosed just over a year ago, after nearly 2 years of leg weakness. He is still able to walk at home but uses a wheelchair and scooter outdoors. He has some weakness in his right arm.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Phil - Interview 28 >> Little things can still trigger great sadness, especially thinking about his grandchildren, but it was worse at the beginning. Learning to accept it h

Phil was diagnosed just over a year ago, after nearly 2 years of leg weakness. He is still able to walk at home but uses a wheelchair and scooter outdoors. He has some weakness in his right arm.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 20-49 >> Kim - Interview 10 >> She wanted to protect her children (now 12 and 10) from worrying about it but in the end told them she wouldn't get better. The hardest thing is seein

Kim was diagnosed with MND (ALS) about a year ago (2005). Now unable to walk she needs help with most daily tasks, but is still working as an occupational therapist and able to drive. Her speech is not affected.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> 'Speedy' - Interview 19 >> She didn't tell her son (now 13) the name of the condition at first but explained she might need a wheelchair soon. He didn't want to talk about it an

'Speedy' was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) nearly 2 years ago (in 2005) after 2 years of increasing leg weakness. She now uses a wheelchair and a hand-operated car.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Mike - Interview 23 >> Gill's first thought was how she was going to tell the family. Mike was calmer than she was. It was hard supporting others when still in shock themsel

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 >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Sandy - Interview 36 >> He told his son first as they were going to a football match after the appointment. He told his wife when he got home and his daughter and colleagues

Sandy was diagnosed 5 years ago (2002) after noticing weakness in one arm. His arms have been worst affected, and now his speech and neck muscles are deteriorating, but he can still walk well.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Jack - Interview 03 >> His grown-up children have all reacted differently. One son has been more emotional than he expected.

Jack was diagnosed with MND a year before interview (2003), after some years of leg pain and stiffness. Symptoms have progressed slowly, still mainly leg weakness. He now uses a walking frame. (Wife Mary present, also interviewed separately MND04).

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 20-49 >> Michael - Interview 29 >> He wants his children (aged 11 and 9) to enjoy their childhood. They have not told them everything about the condition but they do not lie to them.

Michael was diagnosed less than a year ago in 2006 after noticing weakness in his right arm. His arm weakness remains his main symptom, and it has got worse. Currently he is on sick leave from work.