Peter & Carrie

Peter’s story

Peter was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease seven years ago and now relies on an electric wheelchair and an iPad to communicate. Although friends still visit, he often feels left behind in conversations as he types much more slowly than others speak. Once a manager in London and always active in charity work, Peter now finds it frustrating that he can no longer enjoy the hobbies he loved, including gardening. He and his wife also experienced deep loss last year when their son passed away. His wife now manages all his personal care.

When Peter was referred to The Link, we initially wondered whether communication difficulties might make matching him with a volunteer challenging. But during our assessment visit, a particular volunteer came to mind, Carrie, whose experience, warmth, and calm, patient nature seemed the perfect fit.

After Carrie’s first solo visit, Peter’s wife rang immediately to say thank you. She described hearing Peter laugh with Carrie as “pure joy,” sharing that his mood had lifted noticeably. She also felt able to take their dog for a long walk for the first time in a while, knowing he was happily occupied.

Carrie struck the perfect balance of keeping the conversation flowing while giving Peter the time he needed to respond. They’ve already enjoyed games of chess; Peter won both, and looked through photos of his prize-winning flowers. They’ve ordered a chess set and Rummikub to use during future visits, and Carrie’s husband, also a Link volunteer, plans to join occasionally so they can all play together.

For Peter and his wife, the link-up has brought companionship, laughter, and a precious sense of normality. As Peter’s wife said, hearing him laugh again was “pure joy… something social that we would have done before Peter was diagnosed.”

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