Man with no limb function faces heartache as partner receives terminal diagnosis
A man who lost the use of his arms and legs has faced further heartache after his partner and devoted carer received a terminal diagnosis.
Paul Dillon found love with Sarah Leanne Burdon six years ago and the loved-up couple quickly moved in together.
However just a year later, Paul's health spiralled downward due to motor neurone disease, leading Sarah to become his full-time carer.
The couple then received devastating news when Sarah was diagnosed with an uncommon, aggressive form of cancer, leaving her with a prognosis of potentially six months to live. With her health declining, Sarah Leanne has chosen to return to her sons, who wish to care for her in her final days.
A distraught Paul admitted to the Manchester Evening News: "She's going home to die."
The 45-year-old is now grappling not only with the impending loss of his life companion but also the worry of being left without support amid an anticipated lengthy delay for a new care team,.
At the same age, Sarah was stunned to discover she has neuroendocrine cancer. Doctors have given her a six months to live estimate, possibly extending to a year with chemotherapy treatment.
She said: "I don't know how long I've had it, where it's come from – that's how rare it is.
"Six months ago, I found a lump in my breast. It turned out it wasn't breast cancer - that was a symptom of the cancer elsewhere in my body. I'm trying to fight it."
Sarah, mum to two sons aged 23 and 20, chose to move back to her previous home in Stockport to be with her family and receive care from the sons and her brother. As her condition worsens, the family is determined to support her through demanding treatment and cherish their time together.
Consequently, Sarah will not live with Paul at his Moston home, even though they will remain a couple, after spending six years together.
"It's hard for Paul, it's hard for me," Sarah admitted.
"We've been living together for six years. I don't think it's really hit us, it still feels like we're in a bad dream."
Paul himself has been dealing with his own health issues; his physical abilities have sharply declined over the past five years.
He confessed to the Manchester Evening News: "My arms and legs haven't worked for the last five years.
"I've been living full-time with my best mate. But now my partner and carer for the last six years is now going to have to go home to Stockport to live with her sons, she needs to be taken care of."
"It's devastating. It's like we're breaking up."
On Friday, July 4, Paul expressed his concerns after being informed by social workers doing their utmost that it could take 'two or three months' to establish a formal care plan for him. He was also apprehensive about the sufficiency of care for his needs.
Paul notified Manchester City Council about the change in his circumstances approximately two weeks prior.
Describing his predicament, Paul said on Friday: "I'd been living full-time with my best mate. There's no one else to look after me, it's so sad. I can't feed myself, I can't do anything for myself.
"My legs and arms don't work, I nearly died in November. My lungs became so weak that now I'm on a breathing machine every day.
"I've been offered three hours a day of care, which is nothing when I need so much help, I don't know what I'm going to do. But my partner is going home [today] to be taken care of by her sons.
"I need so much help getting up in the morning, getting showered. My partner feeds me, gets me ready, puts me in my disabled chair to watch TV, every hour she has to move my arms – they ache being in one place all the time.
"Then she has to put the breathing machine on me. I'm like a brand new baby, everything is work."
The prospect of his partner Sarah moving out left both of them extremely anxious about his future care.
"I'm really worried there'll be no one to do all this, I'm really scared," Paul admitted.
As of Monday July 7, a care plan tailored to his requirements has been initiated, confirmed by the council.
Councillor Thomas Robinson, Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care, told the Manchester Evening News: "Although this is a difficult and worrying situation for Paul and Sarah, our social work team has been working with them and Paul's brother on an individual care plan that will be in place from tonight to meet all his care needs once Sarah is no longer able to support him.
"The plan involves two separate care agencies taking turns; one will cater to his night-time requirements while the other will provide daytime support.
"We have spoken to Paul and his family who have confirmed that the hours are enough to meet his needs, and that he does not require any further support outside of the care calls.
"We will be keeping in touch with him and the care agencies to ensure that he is receiving the right level of care."
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The couple now focus on fundraising for a caravan, which would allow them to spend quality time away despite limitations, as overseas travel isn't possible for them.
They aim to collect £7,000 but have managed just over £1,300 thus far.
Paul shared: "I can't fly to go on holiday and now we actually don't know how long we have left [because of Sarah Leanne's terminal diagnosis].
"But [we] would love to buy a little caravan, maybe in Blackpool or Wales, so we can just go away as much as we can.
"I know it's a big ask but if anyone could help me with any donations, [it] will help and I appreciate it so much."
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