tribute to ray
from chas
12 years ago this month (18th December) I
lost my brother Ray to MND. He had celebrated his 40th birthday
only one week earlier. It was a difficult time for the family
but this year I decided to celebrate his life rather than mourn
the loss. That may sound starnge to many but I celebrated the
things Ray brought to his family and me in particular. He
brought the friendship of an elder brother, he introduced me to
my wife of thirty years and, in a way, as a result of that
introduction he helped me to enjoy my three sons, all now adults
and forging their own way in life. As well as all this he
brought his own wife to our family their children. Sadly Ray
never lived to see his children married but he would be so proud
to see his son and daughter with his three grand-daughters. I am
lucky enough to be uncle and great uncle to those children and
grand-daughters, all I am sure you will agree, reason to
celebrate.
Another cause for celebration was the
friendship and kindness we received from the North East Hants
branch of the MND Association. I lost touch with the branch soon
after Ray passed away but called Ted Eaves last year to offer my
services as a web site designer. He remembered me immediately,
testament to the care which the branch always shows. Luckily for
the branch they had just managed to find a web site designer so,
and here's another cause for celebration, I approached the South
West Surrey Branch with the same offer, an offer that was
accepted. I now have the friendship of another group of kind and
caring people within that Branch and my circle of friends
continues to grow just because Ray was my brother.
I hope that now you will be able to
understand why I decided to celebrate the forty years of Ray's
life. I know the loss of a loved one to this awful disease is
hard to bear but it does ease the pain to take the positives
from their life. I saw brave people living with MND and, in many
ways, this has helped me to bear the little inconveniences that
have occurred in my life.
I am now fast approaching January in which
I will turn 50 and I have asked those who decide that I am worth
buying a present for to spend their money usefully by donating
that money to the NE Hants Branch. I hope somebody does send
some money and if they do, I also hope it will assist you all to
help and support your members living with MND
May you all have a wonderful Christmas
and, whatever your circumstances, my best wishes for a safe and
happy New Year.
Thank you to all of those at your Branch
who supported us and helped us throughout Ray's illness.
Graham (Chas) Cooke
