Brave Lindsay gives hope to other MS sufferers

At just 32 years old, Lindsay was struck down with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Published on Saturday 28 April 2012 11:06

Lindsay Moore

TWENTY years ago Lindsay Moore was accepted into a prestigious dancing college in London.

Today she sits in a wheelchair completely dependant on her carers and unable to even feed herself.

At just 32 years old, Lindsay was struck down with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Twelve months later, after beginning to get her head around the diagnosis,

Lindsay, who dreamed of being a professional dancer, was told she had primary-progressive MS – the most aggressive form of the condition.

The second sickening blow meant within two years she was confined to a wheelchair, unable to even complete the most simple of tasks without help.

Despite the heartbreak, inspirational Lindsay – with the help of her dedicated full-time carer mum Sylvia – set up an MS support group for people in the town, helping around 30 Hartlepool sufferers cope with living with the condition.

What once promised to be a life of dance and activity for Lindsay has turned into hour after hour, day after day, sat in a chair in her Hartlepool home.

But remarkably, Lindsay refuses to let the condition get her down.

The brave 39-year-old told the Mail: “I just think I have to get on with it, there’s no point in being miserable.”

Lindsay’s mum Sylvia now cares for her daughter every hour of every day.

Her fantastic care is recognised by Lindsay who says: “My mum is brilliant, she’s with me 24/7 and has been from the start.”

Lindsay first realised something was wrong when she started to fall out of simple pirouettes.

After studying at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, in London, her dream of being a professional dancer had been tainted after breaking her feet in an accident.

But after recovering, she still danced on a daily basis.

Lindsay went for a routine check-up where medics first feared she may be suffering with a brain tumour.

That was quickly ruled out, but shortly afterwards she received the heartbreaking MS diagnosis.

At the time Sylvia, who had lost her husband Harry to cancer at just 49 years old had recently retired after years of working as a waitress and office worker.

She had moved down south to be closer to Lindsay but after the shock diagnosis both decided to move back to Hartlepool.

It was then the selfless pair, still getting to grips with the huge changes to their own lives, decided to set up an MS support group to help others going through the ordeal.

Sylvia, 69, said: “When Lindsay came back to Hartlepool she didn’t know anybody.

“She used to go into Hartlepool Hospice for day care and they were fantastic, anything they could do for us they would.

“But we decided we wanted to set up a group ourselves.”

The New Hartlepool MS Support Group has now been up and running for three years, helping both MS sufferers and their friends and family.

And now Lindsay, Sylvia and the group’s members have been boosted after securing a spot at Owton Rossmere Resource Centre, in Wynyard Road, in the town.

After the launch, which will take place on Monday, May 14, the group will be hosting a drop-in session every Monday, from 11am-3pm.

Sufferers can make the most of facilities in a therapy room, enjoy massages and speak to councillors at the sessions.

• For more information about the group, email hartlepoolmsgroup@gmail.com.

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/