In early 2025, Brad Lynch received his motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis. He’d already been through months of tests, told he likely had other conditions, and experienced a range of debilitating symptoms that continued to worsen.
All the while, his high school sweetheart, wife Carol, remained by his side. Together, they have continued to navigate the challenges MND has brought them, supported by MND NSW, Abound Supports, and other service providers and healthcare professionals.
Brad and Carol have shared their MND story, and how this devastating disease has affected their lives:
“Brad had been a very active and capable man. He worked as a panel beater/spray painter for just shy of 30 years, before spending 6 years working as a maintenance officer in an aged care facility. He has loved adventures, from motorcycle riding, 4WDing, camping, hikes, and household projects. Brad approaches everything with his cheeky, wicked sense of humour which is one of his many greatest strengths.
The first sign that something was not right was when he started getting frustrated at small things that would normally come with ease. He then started tripping over his feet but not falling. When asked, he mentioned that his foot wasn’t doing what he wanted it to do. That was swiftly followed by a change in his arm swing, which was absent at times. Over time, Brad’s mobility continued to decline with a significant foot drop and he started having difficulty with backwards movements. You’d be surprised how many things we do naturally require backwards movements! Things that we take for granted like, opening a fridge door or a drawer. Brad’s ability to adapt found him learning new skills like becoming very good at wall surfing for stability!
As distances started to become problematic, in one GP visit to get a disability parking permit, Brad had his licence revoked and was told he was no longer fit to return to work. With over 100 falls under his belt, Brad underwent nerve ending tests, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, blood tests etc.
Brad was diagnosed with MND in March 2025 at the age of 52, after 15 months of many tests and consultations. A diagnosis of MND is devastating. Brad’s disease progression has been reasonably fast, and we quickly realised that our home, Brad’s childhood home, was no longer going to suit his needs. We had to get finances in order, wills, powers of attorney and enduring guardianship. We downsized to a unit, closer to family. We learned that accessible housing is not easy to come by!
We have been so incredibly grateful for the amazing team at MND NSW, as well as the MND Clinic at Calvary. Once we met with them, for the first time we felt supported. Our extended team of OT, PT, Speech Pathology, Dietician and Abound Support Workers have been incredible. We are so incredibly grateful for all the support we have had from family and close friends – our family and friend army.
Brad has a great sense of humour and is incredibly cheeky and he easily endears himself to others wherever he goes. Brad’s courage and strength is inspiring, and he tries to bring joy wherever he goes.
It’s been important to know what the goals of care are so that we frame support to meet Brad’s goals. However, those goals change as the disease progresses. MND is an emotional rollercoaster. It’s incredibly important to find your people, who understand what you are going through. No one can imagine what it’s like, but those who are walking the same journey, still may not know exactly, but will understand you.
We are also learning that the aides to support communication and mobility can be seen as being defeated by the disease. However, it is important to see these things as a pathway to take control of the disease, and not allow it to control you.
Sometimes the most precious moments are the ones where we can connect with loved ones, enjoy a laugh and by making memories by doing new things, or things that you just simply love by adapting so that you can still enjoy them.
When asked what he would tell someone that has just been diagnosed, Brad said, ‘Don’t give up. Keep fighting. Try and have fun along the way. It’s not over until it’s over and it’s certainly not over yet!’”
- Brad and Carol Lynch
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