29-04-2025
Doctors gave me devastating news after I noticed weakness in my hand and started dropping files in work
A FORMER Clinical Nurse Manager and long-time Special Olympics coach told how a trip to the hairdressers led to a shock diagnosis.
Catriona Dixon, 58, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in December 2023.
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A Wexford told how she was diagnosed with MND
Credit: COLLECT
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Catriona Dixon was a Clinical Nurse Manager and Special Olympics Coach
Credit: IMNDA
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Catriona was diagnosed with MND in 2023
Credit: COLLECT
She told The Irish Sun: 'It's an ongoing loss, but I am making the best of it and keep hope as my mantra.'
Crowned 'Person of the Year' at Gorey Business and Endeavour awards in Wexford in February, Catriona told how her life changed drastically over the last 16 months.
She said: 'Everyone with motor neurones is affected differently. Mine is that my arms, the muscles in my arms, my upper arms are dying.
'So I would have very little strength in my arms and hands. But my legs are good. My voice is good so far.'
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Catriona discussed how she has to 'accept' her own challenges now as a
The former Nurse Manager said: 'I always said to my clients 'don't be embarrassed'. I'd always make sure their dignity was maintained.
'So I can't think that I could have asked them to do that, if I'm not prepared to be that way as well.'
The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association have helped Catriona plan ahead for whatever may come.
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She explained: 'I've recorded my voice so that if the day ever comes that I can't communicate verbally, I have an iPad that the IMNDA lent to me.
'I can use that to communicate if I need to. It does sound like me. It's amazing. It's a great thing to have.
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'Communication is such a big thing. It's really what keeps me going.'
The Gory native explained how weakness in her wrists eventually led medics to the shock diagnosis.
She said: 'Looking back, it's only when you put all these things together that you realise something isn't going well.
'In January to February 2023, I started to notice a weakness in my right hand in work.'
Catriona noticed she would drop an 'odd folder' and she went to see a doctor in late February.
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Medics referred her to neurology, which took almost six months to get an appointment.
She continued: 'At that stage, my left arm was falling in the way of my right arm. It was the same type of weakness.
'I was actually in my hairdresser, I went to get my hair done. I was leaning back against the sink to get the hair washed.
'I went to sit up, and I couldn't lift off the sink without putting my hand behind my neck.
'So that showed that there was something going on there.'
She added: 'Motor Neurone Disease is an unfortunate condition because you have to rule out other things to come to the realisation that it's more from neurones.
'So I had a number of blood and nerve conduction tests. Where they take responses and reactions of the muscles in your body.'
LIVING WITH MND
Catriona is adamant that MND 'can't define' her and she will continue to stay active.
She said: "It is an illness. It's an ongoing loss of motor function.
'I know it's going to get worse, but I don't know when. So there's no point in sitting around waiting for it.
'There's no point in giving up either. So I'm going to keep going. I'm going to do as much as I can for as long as I can. That's really important to me.'
In December, Catriona was forced to 'give up driving' but is thankful for the support from loved ones.
She said: 'I'm a bit like driving Miss Daisy now. They come and collect me and they bring me out and about.'
'NO CURE'
The Wexford woman praised the team in Beaumont Hospital looking after her.
She said: 'When you're sitting here on your own and you're thinking 'now what do I do? How am I going to manage this? How am I going to get on with this.' But the team, they really support you.'
There are around 470 people across Ireland living with
Catriona said: 'There are a bunch of people in Ireland with MND.
'While there's no cure, I think we're all kind of hopeful that maybe someday they'd find a treatment to even prolong the time that we have. That's what everyone wants.'
Despite the challenges of her diagnosis, the 58-year old remains active and engaged in her community.
Catriona said: 'Though I've had to reduce some of my activities, I still remain active. Last year, I even fulfilled a lifelong dream by going inter-railing across Europe.
'But more importantly, I've been reconnecting—with my family, my friends, and my community. We regularly walk, talk, drink tea and connect. It really helps.
'I couldn't have done that without the support and expertise of the IMNDA Nurses.'
SIGNS OF MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE
WHILE motor neurone disease isn't usually painful, symptoms can be extremely debilitating.
In many cases, signs of the disease will begin gradually.
Typically, this will occur on one side of the body only, before progressively worsening.
Heartbreakingly, motor neurone disease may leave the diagnosed unable to move or communicate property.
Swallowing and breathing may also become a difficult task.
The NHS outlines initial symptoms to look out for…
a weakened grip, which can cause difficulty picking up or holding objects
weakness at the shoulder that makes lifting the arm difficult
a "foot drop" caused by weak ankle muscles
dragging of the leg
slurred speech (dysarthria)
MND affects everyone differently, the MND Association says. Not everyone has all the symptoms, or in the same order, and the speed at which symptoms progress can vary.
People may have:
muscle weakness
muscle spasms
stiff joints
speech and communication problems
swallowing difficulties
breathing problems
Around 35 per cent of people with MND experience mild cognitive change, which can cause issues in executive functions such as planning, decision-making and language.
A further 15 per cent of people with MND show signs of
40K YOUR WAY
Taking on 40k Your Way in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, Catriona is urging people to join her team.
Participants can walk, jog, run, cycle or swim 40 kilometres in whatever way suits them best.
Registration is completely FREE and all participants will receive a limited-edition '40K Your Way in May' cap and a kilometre tracker card to help them stay on course.
Every kilometre you cover—and every euro you raise—will directly support the IMNDA's critical services.
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The Gorey woman has a team in IMNDA's 40k Your Way
Credit: COLLECT
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The fundraiser will take place in May
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