TD ‘will not surrender’ to disease

Fine Gael TD Nicky McFadden said she was “shocked and distressed” following her diagnosis with motor neurone disease, but vowed it would be “business as usual” as far as her work was concerned.

TD ‘will not surrender’ to disease

The first-time TD and mother of two described how she began noticing problems with her speech last November and initially thought it was a problem with her vocal cords.

“I noticed having to slow down my speech in order to avoid slurring my words,” she said.

“The possibility of motor neurone disease only emerged in the last fortnight.”

The 49-year-old was elected to the Seanad in 2007 and last year became the first female TD to represent Longford-Westmeath.

She told the Election 2012 book produced by RTÉ’s The Week in Politics that she enjoyed walking, cooking for friends and spending time with her family.

Her diagnosis was announced yesterday after being confirmed last Thursday.

“I was shocked and distressed when I was told, but after a couple of days it was clear to me that this was something to be fought, and I’m a fighter,” she said.

“I’ve never surrendered in the face of any challenge, and I’m not going to surrender to this either. I have the full support of my party and will have the practical help of my good friends and staff to assist me in continuing my work as a Dáil deputy.”

About 300 people have the degenerative disease in Ireland and awareness of it has been raised by a number of recent high-profile diagnoses, including that of RTÉ’s Colm Murray.

Former Kildare NorthFianna Fáil TD Michael Fitzpatrick died last October following his diagnosis with the disease in Mar 2010.

Ms McFadden said she feels “absolutely fine” and even completed a 10-mile charity walk three weeks ago.

“While 75% of people with motor neurone disease first present with muscle weakness in the arms and legs, the onset of my condition is subtle, and has only affected my speech so far,” she said.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny expressed his admiration for “the courage with which Deputy McFadden has addressed her illness”.

He said: “We have no doubt that Nicky will continue her work with her customary conviction and energy.”

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