I can’t say I love you

IMAGINE not being able to say

‘I Love You’ this Valentine’s Day. That’s the heartbreaking predicament facing Sharon Friel (40), from Donabate, who would dearly love to say those three words to her six-year-old son and husband this Saturday, February 14.

Sharon was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2012. Sadly, since her diagnosis, she can no longer walk and is confined to a wheelchair.

She can no longer speak and communicates mainly with the use of a communication aid.

She can no longer speak to her husband, Conall, or little boy, Senan, and say the words

‘I Love You’.

“Communication is made up of words, tone and body language, Sharon told Northside People through a communication aid.

“I’ve lost all three.

“It takes all my energy to say each and every word and I end up repeating myself several times to be understood.

“It’s exhausting and very frustrating.

“I’m missing out on parenting my son. It’s hard to correct a child when it takes a few minutes to type your message. He just bounces away oblivious. I’m lucky he’s such a good boy.

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Sharon said she is very proud of Senan and how much he accepts her disability and how he treats her normally.

“My husband is my rock, he does everything for us,

? she added.

“As well as working full time he is effectively a single dad, a carer and an Irish mammy, fussing over Senan and myself.

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During the month of February, Sharon and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) are calling on people to take part in sponsored silences to experience what it would be like to not be able to communicate.

People are being asked to stay silent for 30 minutes at work, school or even at home alone.

All you have to do is pick a day, time and location where you will take on your sponsored silence. Sponsor cards are available from the IMNDA office. Email [email protected] or you can text MND to 50300 to donate

?¬2 (100 per cent of the money from the texts goes to IMNDA across most network providers).

A spokeswoman for the IMNDA said some providers apply VAT which means that a minimum of

?¬1.63 will go to the organisation.

The IMNDA is calling on people who take part in the sponsored silence challenge to nominate friends and family to join them.

The organisation, which was set up in 1985, provides specialised services for people affected by this debilitating disease such as equipment on loan, financial assistance towards home help, advice and home visits by a MND nurse.

In order to provide these vital services, the IMNDA depends heavily on the generosity of the public and supporters of the association who generate over 86 per cent of its income.

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurological condition that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord.

This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting.