Dad Diagnosed with MND Struggles Finances and Caring For Family

A former shinty captain in Scotland is battling multiple challenges after being diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND). Dad-of-four Lachlan Campbell, 47, of Spean Bridge, struggles not only with the physical and mental toll of the terminal illness but also with the financial impact on his family.

Lachlan was diagnosed with MND three years ago. Early signs included speech difficulties and physical clumsiness, which he initially attributed to stress.

“My voice totally went. I was dropping things and being clumsy – I thought I was losing my mind,” Lachlan recalls.

Once diagnosed, the severity of the situation became clear.

“When I was diagnosed it was the news I was dreading – for me it was the worst-case scenario,” he stated.

Before his illness, Lachlan was a prominent figure in shinty. He captained Lochaber in the premier league and competed in major cup tournaments. Beyond sports, he built a successful joinery business.

MND has significantly affected Lachlan’s physical abilities, making his previous job unsustainable.

“I fall quite regularly so it’s a matter of time until I really hurt myself. I had to make a decision to do what’s best for the family because if I injure myself the recovery will not be easy,” he explained.

The disease progressively weakens muscles, impacting mobility, speech, swallowing, and breathing.

The financial aspect of MND is particularly challenging. Lachlan worries about supporting his family, which includes three daughters and a son.

“The biggest fear is the financial impact on my family. We have grants available, but the funding is limited,” Lachlan said.

Securing financial assistance is further complicated by Lachlan’s speech difficulties.

“I had a real issue trying to apply for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) when I was first diagnosed and my mental state wasn’t good, and then trying to have a long conversation with someone who couldn’t understand what I was saying – I just gave up in the end,” he mentioned.

“If you have a disease like this, then PIP should be offered to you – you shouldn’t have to claim it because it’s not easy,” Lachlan believes.

Leeann, Lachlan’s wife, juggles caring for him with her part-time job. She fears the burden will increase as Lachlan’s condition worsens.

“Knowing that he’s going to get worse is a horrible thought – it keeps me awake at night. It worries me how I’m even going to cope looking after him when he gets to a certain stage,” Leeann stated.

“Every day I think if he can get up and go out and do whatever he does then I can’t just sit about and be sad and angry – I still have to keep going too,” she said.

Despite his diagnosis, Lachlan remains actively involved in raising awareness and funding for MND. He has raised over £10,000 for affected families.

The average life expectancy for someone with MND is around 18 months from diagnosis. Although there is currently no cure or effective treatment, Lachlan stays positive.

“Really the only thing that’s important is to try and enjoy the life I’ve got left and make sure my family are enjoying it with me,” Lachlan said.

Leeann’s children support her and their father. Regan, Lachlan’s daughter, finds her father’s attitude inspirational.

“We can’t sit being all doom and gloom when he’s the one that’s actually unwell and he’s the one being positive so we’ve just got to try and do that as well,” Regan said.

Molly, another daughter, echoed her sister’s sentiments.

“It’s such a horrible, horrible disease. You’re literally just watching someone lose themselves right in front of your eyes and there’s literally nothing you can do,” she said.

MND Scotland provides support for individuals and families dealing with the disease.

“We are here to support people so they are not on their own with it at all,” Angela Harris, from MND Scotland, said.

“We would strongly advise anyone whose got a diagnosis or is affected in this way to come to MND Scotland and talk to the support team.”

Dr. Madina Kara, director of research at the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, shared that efforts to find a cure are ongoing.

Lachlan’s story highlights the importance of financial support and awareness for MND patients and their families.

“I thought we had a long time together where we would grow old together, see the kids have kids, get married— all that kind of stuff. But knowing that probably isn’t going to happen, it makes you really appreciate the time you’ve got with each other,” Leeann mentioned.

Lachlan Campbell’s story is a testament to resilience and the unwavering love between family members.

His proactive efforts and those of MND Scotland shed light on the critical need for better support systems for individuals battling MND.