Laura and Terry's story

“I have been married to the wonderful Terry since 20 December 2009 and I have two fabulous stepchildren, Ellie and Alex. I used to work as a children’s nanny, which I really loved.

In October 2022 when I was 41 years old, I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) which is a life-limiting condition that affects the brain and nerves. This was life-changing news. It was made worse when our landlord contacted us on the same day, without any warning, to give us notice to leave. Terry explained that I was seriously ill but they wouldn’t change their mind, making us homeless.

When I was diagnosed, the professor at the London hospital put us in touch with Farleigh Hospice to help me manage my symptoms. I wasn’t really aware of what Farleigh did, apart from providing end of life care. The first person we spoke to at length was Irene, Farleigh’s Family Support Practitioner. She told us about the wide range of practical help that they also offer. Terry and I were very worried and emotional but she put our minds completely at rest.

We needed to urgently find a home that would be fully accessible for me and would also allow us to keep our two cats. Farleigh introduced us to the Peabody Housing Association which changed everything for us. Within a few weeks we were on the council register and able to bid on properties straightaway. We found our home and got it first time. It’s an accessible flat with our own garden in a lovely spot in Great Baddow and we had no problems taking both cats with us. Farleigh’s MND Coordinator also helped us apply for funding for the furniture and appliances we needed so we could move in.

We were very anxious about having to apply for benefits, so we were grateful when Irene at Farleigh did our Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application for us. When she also successfully applied for a blue parking badge, we were over the moon. MND is now affecting my mobility and I have to walk with a stick, so parking closer to our destination in wider spaces has made life much easier.

I have been having physiotherapy at Farleigh to help with my mobility problems and complementary therapies including acupuncture to help me to relax. MND is now also affecting my speech, making it harder for me to communicate, but it is reassuring that I can contact Farleigh’s nurses for expert advice and care as my symptoms develop.

Terry and I go to Farleigh’s monthly MND Peer Support Group. It has been so beneficial to meet people in a similar position to us. For me, talking to people on the same journey and knowing that I’m not alone is lovely.

Then Farleigh gave us the most special day. Terry and I had always talked about renewing our wedding vows, maybe for our 20th anniversary. We were about to celebrate our 14th anniversary and realised time isn’t on our side anymore, so we decided to do it sooner rather than later. Farleigh’s Chaplain and Spiritual Care Lead, Susanna, offered to officiate and said we could hold the ceremony in the sanctuary room at Farleigh’s hospice building. The service on 28 October 2023 was amazing. We walked down the aisle together to take our vows in front of thirty of our close family and friends. Then the sun shone as we had our photos taken in the hospice gardens. It’s a day we will hold close to our hearts forever.

Without Farleigh Hospice, we genuinely don’t know where we’d be. In one day, we had gone from both being self-employed and living a fairly stress-free life to being homeless, sick and without a clue of what to do first. Farleigh has been a guiding light leading the way. They have taken away our stress, anxiety and worry and replaced it with care, love, help and guidance. Farleigh Hospice has totally made every day count so Terry and I can live life to the full and keep being ‘us’. We will both forever be so grateful.”