A local man, Clive Castle, has produced a 50 page A5 book describing his 9 year journey in coping with his wife’s Motor Neurone Disease, when she fell ill in 2012 and dealing with the many organisations that were involved from the date of her diagnosis made in 2015. Sadly she passed away in September 2021.
The book is designed to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. As people are aware, this is one of the few diseases that is really horrible and debilitating from day one, with a short life expectancy for most.
His wife, Heather Castle, was a well respected school teacher who taught at Byerley Park Infants and Primary School for many years. Parents were extremely pleased that their children were taught by Heather and many of them went on to be very successful in their chosen occupations and professions.
Heather and Clive were married for 51 years and knew each other for 55 years. They were married in Coxhoe, in 1970. The book is interesting as it describes their early lives and how they met as young adults and fell for each other in quite unusual circumstances and, of course, latterly coping with the MND.
The memoir describes the many ups and downs of his wife’s MND and how he organised and managed the many National Health Service carers, helpers, medical staff, and others, and how he survived his two heart attacks, five weeks before Heather died from MND.
There is also a gentle appreciation of the roles of various medical professionals and of the National Health Service and even a bit about our extraordinary human DNA.
The book can be purchased locally, directly from Clive by contacting him by email at clive.castle@icloud.com or by texting 07432 197166. The book will cost £9.99, all sales sevenue will be sent to the MNDA. Clive will deliver locally in Newton Aycliffe, but, unfortunately, post and packing will be chargeable for distant mail deliveries, currently £2.80. It is hoped that, in the not too distant future, the book will also be published on Amazon and Kindle books.