Dream come true for dad with Motor Neurone Disease

The excitement of seeing a little one trotting through the gates on their first day of school was a major milestone for many families last week - none more so than for the Brennan family from Mullagh.
Dad Andrew was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in February 2015 when his youngest daughter Sophie was just five months.
Then doctors predicted that the former newspaper printer by trade only had two to five years left to live.
So, for Andrew, seeing Sophie, now nearly five years, enter the yard at Crossreagh National School with big sister Aoife, who started school there last year, was a big occasion for the family.
To defy the debilitating progressive neurological condition long enough to see last Thursday, Sophie’s first day at school, was something Andrew and wife Yvonne had longed for.
“One day at a time,” says Andrew, who in the time since The Anglo-Celt last spoke with him, little over a year ago, his ability to walk and use his hands has deteriorated.
“I use my wheelchair a bit more now. I’ve nearly lost a lot of use in my hands. But look, I’ve great health other than that, a great wife as my carer, two lovely daughters, and great family support around me too. I’m very lucky really,” says Andrew, who pays huge tribute to his care team and their support, in particular the assistance provided by Katie and Lisa.
“When I was diagnosed first [Sophie] was five months old. Now she’s nearly five. So [to see both girls start school] was a goal I’ve seen out,” a proud Andrew explains. “I was top of the world. It was like winning an Olympic medal I suppose.”
For Yvonne too, it was a precious moment to share with her husband.
With typical childish excitement, Sophie was only too “delighted” heading off to school last Thursday morning. But as Yvonne says, the family were “as delighted” for Andrew in seeing it too.
“She being so young when Andrew was first diagnosed is a big part of it. People always say ‘the first day at school is so exciting’, well for us it really was,” says Yvonne. “So many people are gone because of the condition, so it’s great that [Andrew’s] been able to do something like that, that he wanted to achieve.”
When the Celt last spoke to Andrew in July 2018, it was to travel the road outside the Brennans’ neatly-appointed family home to highlight the poor condition at the time.
So badly cut up in places was the already-narrow country lane that Andrew, in his custom-built motorised wheelchair, was forced to turn back just several hundred yards from his front gate. The family was also concerned that the poor road surface might damage the specially modified car that the family use, which was paid for through the generosity of fundraising by neighbours and the local community.
Andrew had felt that if the road condition were to get much worse, he may be “trapped” completely. 
But the Council did start fixing the road in April this year. Work is ongoing, and tarring is required, but all expected to be finished in the coming months.
“They’re getting there, slowly but surely. It’s great to see,” acknowledges a thankful Andrew. “There are parts that are even worse [than July 2018] at the minute, but once they put tar on it, it’ll be like a run way. There’ll be no stopping me.”

Optimistic
While the family remain grounded in their expectations, they live every day with a sense of optimism. As Yvonne says: “You have to live every day for what it is. Who knows, tomorrow I mightn’t be here. That’s the way we look at life. People do be complaining about money and whatever. Your health is your wealth. We’re in a different boat than many people but that’s our outlook on life.”
Andrew and Yvonne enjoyed a family holiday to Cork during the Summer with Sophie and Aoife - more memories to treasure.
Andrew even came up with the bright idea of hooking a bicycle trailer to the back of his wheelchair to tow the two girls along the tourist trail.
Andrew adds: “Life is very short when you really think of it. People lose sight of that. You never know what’s around the corner.”