Life With MND
Penny
Sadly Penny died in July 2008.
I have always loved travelling so it was fortuitous that we had a holiday booked for the week after I was diagnosed. Tuscany was just the right place for my husband Michael and I to absorb the shock and start planning for a different future.
"...the advantages of travelling outweigh the difficulties by a long way."
High on my list of priorities was to continue travelling, and two-and-half years on, I'm lucky to still be fulfilling this aim.
Since the diagnosis, we have travelled to India, Paris and Corsica. The Taj Mahal was a 'must see' place on our list, so we took a tour in early spring.
In 2005 we ventured to Prague, the USA and Italy. My legs were still strong enough to cope with walking, though we did build in lots of coffee/beer breaks!
This year we have visited the Canary Isles and cruised around the magnificent Norwegian Fjords. Cruising has been a first for us, now that my mobility is more limited.
I am not pretending that travel with MND is hassle-free. We pay large amounts out in travel insurance (I find the MND Association recommended insurers useful). We always travel light as I cannot carry suitcases, and we avoid self-catering so Michael has a break from cooking.
We don't usually book too far in advance and I have to accept that some trips are no longer possible. I don't think Machu Picchu is a good idea for someone with weak legs and breathing problems!
Although I don't use a wheelchair at home, I have been grateful for the wheelchair service on offer at airports - especially Heathrow and the USA. Eating out has led to the occasional messy moment in packed restaurants and we've also had lots of 'fun' in foreign public toilets!
However, the advantages of travelling outweigh the difficulties by a long way. We have a great number of photographs and enjoy them at our leisure when we return. Planning the next visit gives me something to aim for and look forward to - all very important in the positive approach to living with MND.
And you never know, if you are a traveller too, we might bump into each other one day!
Since the diagnosis, we have travelled to India, Paris and Corsica. The Taj Mahal was a 'must see' place on our list, so we took a tour in early spring.
In 2005 we ventured to Prague, the USA and Italy. My legs were still strong enough to cope with walking, though we did build in lots of coffee/beer breaks!
This year we have visited the Canary Isles and cruised around the magnificent Norwegian Fjords. Cruising has been a first for us, now that my mobility is more limited.
I am not pretending that travel with MND is hassle-free. We pay large amounts out in travel insurance (I find the MND Association recommended insurers useful). We always travel light as I cannot carry suitcases, and we avoid self-catering so Michael has a break from cooking.
We don't usually book too far in advance and I have to accept that some trips are no longer possible. I don't think Machu Picchu is a good idea for someone with weak legs and breathing problems!
Although I don't use a wheelchair at home, I have been grateful for the wheelchair service on offer at airports - especially Heathrow and the USA. Eating out has led to the occasional messy moment in packed restaurants and we've also had lots of 'fun' in foreign public toilets!
However, the advantages of travelling outweigh the difficulties by a long way. We have a great number of photographs and enjoy them at our leisure when we return. Planning the next visit gives me something to aim for and look forward to - all very important in the positive approach to living with MND.
And you never know, if you are a traveller too, we might bump into each other one day!
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