Jennifer Bell, 28, was in the third year of her degree in learning disability nursing when she noticed problems with her speech.
Doctors at the time thought her symptoms were down to hormonal changes during her second pregnancy with daughter Kacey, now one year old.
But in March 2019, six months after giving birth to Kacey, Jennifer was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and given just nine months to live.
The single mum-of-two has written a powerful letter following her terminal diagnosis, urging people ‘not to take life for granted because tomorrow is never guaranteed’.
Jennifer, from Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, wrote: ‘Since being diagnosed with a terminal illness your perception of things, people and places change.
‘Your priorities are different and things that you once took for granted you no longer do.
‘Day in day out whether it’s on social media or it’s in public, I hear people moaning and I think to myself I wish that’s all I had to worry about.
‘We are all human and have difficult times but here’s something for you to think about, not for you to feel bad, simply for you to realise that everyday is a gift and you should really count your blessings instead of moaning about what you don’t have.’
After giving birth to her first daughter aged 20, Jennifer juggled childcare with studying at university, along with a part-time job and a university placement. After giving birth to her second daughter, Kacey, she was straight back to university after just two weeks off.
But just as she thought her life was about to ‘finally be easier’ as she neared the end of her final year of studying, she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Her letter continues: ‘Through every year at university, I thought this is too much, I can’t do this. But I kept pushing myself for my girls.
‘Any student nurse knows how hard work life and student life is.
‘It’s round the clock, listening to patients, comforting them, changing beds, feeding them… the list is endless and they are under valued and underpaid.
‘Then, at the end of my long hard journey when I could see light at the end of the tunnel, I was diagnosed with MND.
‘That is unfair. Being diagnosed with a terminal illness is unfair at any age – but before 30 it’s gut-wrenching.
‘Knowing I never got the reward of being in a qualified nurse post after all the work is unfair. It’s unfair two kids are going to lose their mum.
‘It’s unfair that after school, all the kids in Georgia’s class go home and she has to go to Marie Curie sessions. It’s unfair I can’t read my kids a book or sing them a song.
‘Most unfair is that MND has been around for so many years and there’s not one thing out there to help or cure it.
‘It’s unfair to be told you have MND and its just ‘bad luck’ and, ‘We can’t help you’.’
Jennifer shared her letter to encourage people to stop moaning about the small stuff and be grateful for being healthy, alongside raising awareness of motor neurone disease.
She ends the letter by writing: ‘So before you moan about how you had a crap sleep last night or you can’t be bothered with work or you have a sore throat, maybe think to yourself in the grand scheme of things is this really important?
‘You only have one life so live it and if there’s something you don’t like change it.
‘Stop wishing for more than you have or you will never find happiness as it comes from within.”
‘Don’t take life for granted because tomorrow is never guaranteed.
‘Life is short, live it properly.
‘After spending 28 years of not being content the only thing now that keeps me content is the love of my family and my two beautiful daughters.
‘If I had lived the last 28 years not taking things for granted I would have done it the right way…so do it right people, you only have one chance.
‘So here’s to finding a cure for MND, appreciating your nurses and the NHS and not taking life for granted.’
What is motor neurone disease?
Motor neurone disease (MND) is an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time.
It’s always fatal and can significantly shorten life expectancy, but some people live with it for many years.
There’s no cure, but there are treatments to help reduce the impact it has on your daily life.
Symptoms of motor neurone disease
Symptoms of motor neurone disease come on gradually and may not be obvious at first.
Early symptoms can include:
- weakness in your ankle or leg – you might trip, or find it harder to climb stairs
- slurred speech, which may develop into difficulty swallowing some foods
- a weak grip – you might drop things, or find it hard to open jars or do up buttons
- muscle cramps and twitches
- weight loss – your arms or leg muscles may have become thinner over time
- difficulty stopping yourself crying or laughing in inappropriate situations
– NHS
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