Surrey Man with MND urges others with life limiting illnesses to be proactive about getting help
Ben Lighting was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2023 and has been telling us about the support he received at the Woking and Sam Beare Hospice
A Surrey man with Motor Neurone Disease is urging others with life limiting illnesses to be proactive about seeking help
Ben Lighting was diagnosed in 2023, and he's been telling us about the care he received at his local hospice.
He admits when he was first told he should consider hospice care he was sceptical
"I have to say, when I first received that kind of suggestion. I was quite, wow, I'm not quite ready for that yet. That's where you go in the last couple of weeks of your life.
But actually the reality is very different. And so when I got there, it opened my eyes to what they can actually do for people with a life limiting or terminal illness."
Ben told us about how the hospice was able to help him.
"I think they've made a huge difference. So it's things about early access to different services. They can signpost you in the right direction. They know the ins and outs of how to organise things with the NHS.
They have links into various charities that can provide various bits of support. So it just gives it to you, instead of you having to find it all yourself and navigate all that stuff, they've been super in terms of helping as well as the physical stuff."
Ben urges other men who have been newly diagnosed with a life limiting illness to be proactive about seeking help
"I would say to somebody, to somebody newly diagnosed. Get out there and ask for help. And I think that asking for help is the first step. And if you're able to do that and you're able to connect with the right people and the right organisations, help is there.
The MND community is a very loving community."
Ben has written a book called MND & me which he hopes will help others who are coming to terms with an MND diagnosis.
Profits from the book will be split between the Motor Neurone Disease Association as well as the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation