Denis Dunne was told his symptoms were likely to be carpal tunnel syndrome but further tests revealed the truth
Denis Dunne with wife Jackie, son Luke and daughter Lauren(Image: Jackie Dunne)
A dad-of-two was struck with a “bolt from the blue” after being given the “worst possible diagnosis” just a few days after celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary in Mexico. Denis Dunne, 58, first started having odd symptoms in May 2024 as his strength ebbed away and he struggled to tighten his hands like he used to.
It was initially believed he was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. But a series of medical appointments, including a hand specialist and a spine specialist, were unable to find the cause of his problems.
It was only when he visited a neurologist at the Walton centre in May, shortly after returning from a celebration holiday to Mexico, that he found out the devastating truth.
His wife Jackie, 56, said: “Denis had been waiting 12 months by this point and couldn’t move his arms up to a certain height. He said to the doctor what do you think it is, and that’s when she said motor neurone disease.”
Denis, from Hunts Cross, was given the official diagnosis in August. Jackie said: “We feel like it has just come out of the blue. We obviously knew about the condition, but it wasn’t on our radar. You never think it will happen to you.
“He was probably the fittest he had been in a long time, so it did come as a huge shock. He was well and healthy, and to get this diagnosis was a bolt from the blue.
“One conversation, one appointment, has changed everything. The way we live, the way we are. Things have changed quite quickly from the diagnosis. I’m having to help him get washed and dressed. He struggles to eat, he struggles to brush his teeth.
“This was a guy who was a data engineer. He’s worked all his life, loved sport, coached rugby and football – now he’s struggling to do daily tasks.
“It feels like someone has just pulled the carpet from under you. I don’t know how to explain it. One appointment has changed all of our lives overnight.”
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a progressive condition which causes the muscles to weaken and waste away. The disease is incurable and has a life expectancy of around two to three years after diagnosis – though some people live much longer, such as scientist Stephen Hawking, who lived with the condition for 55 years.
Denis and Jackie Dunne(Image: Jackie Dunne)
Jackie said: “It’s a daily struggle, especially for Denis. He’s gone from working out six days a week to struggling to walk to the kitchen and back. It’s a real eye opener. You don’t realise how precious things are. You don’t appreciate the simple things you take for granted. In the blink of an eye, it’s gone.
“Denis is keeping his spirits up and we are are trying to raise awareness on the condition. It’s so life changing. He can’t work any more, he spends a lot of time at home. But now we have the diagnosis, we’re getting help and support from the MND Association. But it’s still tough on the daily.
“It impacts everything – financial, emotional, physical – all at once. I don’t think we’re at the stage of accepting things because it’s a tough thing to process. I think because there’s no real time frame and everyone’s different. There’s not going to be a good outcome. We’ve still got hope and we’re sticking together, but diagnosis wise its probably the worst diagnosis you can get.
“Sometimes you feel strong, other days you don’t know what to do. It’s like an emotional rollercoaster.”
Denis’ son Luke and niece Rebecca have arranged a charity skydive to raise money for the MND Association, which supported the family in the wake of the devastating news. They also received help from the Bridge Community Centre in Norris Green.
Jackie said: “They have given us the help and the support we needed over a short space of time. We needed a stair-lift and they gave us funds for that. They gave us help with reclining chairs to help Denis from sitting to standing.
“Once we registered with them, they’ve been reaching out and offering support. In the short space of time when we have needed help, they’ve been right there. Even just talking to someone who has knowledge of how it works and what to expect, no question is a stupid question for them. It’s just having that person on the phone to listen to you and support you.
“This is just the beginning of our journey. We’re in it at the moment and we feel we can give something back.”
Luke and Rebecca’s charity skydive for MND will take place at the Black Knights Skydiving Centre on Saturday, October 4. Their fundraiser can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rebecca-luke-4th