Show Notes
In this episode, I’m joined by Marlene Lewis and her daughter Nicole to share the story of their husband and father, Shane Lewis, who lived with MND.
Together, they speak candidly about the realities of living with MND in regional Australia, where accessing specialist care can be incredibly challenging. They also discuss the additional barriers faced by people diagnosed over the age of 65 who are ineligible for the NDIS.
Shane made the courageous decision to access Voluntary Assisted Dying, and Marlene and Nicole generously share their experience of the application process, including the difficulties created by living in a regional area where even video medical appointments weren’t readily available.
Above all, this is a conversation about Shane himself—a much-loved husband, father, mate and all-round great bloke.
This is an honest and important discussion about love, loss, inequity, and ensuring every Australian living with MND has access to the care and choices they deserve.
More from Let's Talk MND
In this episode, Peta Hardy, an Occupational Therapist who specialises in MND, and shares insights on how occupational therapy supports individuals with MND. She discusses assistive technology, home safety, and the importance of a multidisciplinary team to improve quality of life.
In this mind blowing episode, Dr. Amanda Wright and Dr. Lyndal Henden discuss their recent research findings that MND has a 7 times higher prevalence in areas of in Western NSW, compared with the rest of the world! We explore incidence rates, genetics and environmental factors, and the challenges of rural healthcare. They share insights into ongoing efforts to improve data collection, diagnosis, and care for rural patients.
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