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Nicky McFadden has voted to continue work as a TD despite her diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease. Photocall Ireland
MND
FG TD vows to continue working after Motor Neurone diagnosis
Longford-Westmeath TD Nicky McFadden was diagnosed with the disease last week.
2.53pm, 5 Jun 2012
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A FINE GAEL TD has vowed to continue serving her constituents after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease.
Nicky McFadden, a TD for Longford-Westmeath, today revealed she had been diagnosed with the condition late last week, after months of medical testing.
“About eight months ago, I noticed having to slow down my speech in order to avoid slurring my words,” McFadden said in a statement today, saying she had been formally diagnosed last Thursday by Prof Orla Hardiman of Beaumont Hospital.
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“When I became symptomatic, I initially thought it was something to do with my vocal cords. But each medical test proved negative and it was a very frustrating time. The possibility of Motor Neurone Disease only emerged in the last fortnight.
While 75 per cent 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.
I feel absolutely fine, and I completed a ten mile walk for the ICA just three weeks ago.
McFadden said that the slowing of her speech was the only symptom at present, and she was determined to “maintain my workload as energetically as I have up until now”.
“My offices in Mullingar and Athlone have never been busier, and, as far as I’m concerned, it is business as usual representing the people of Longford and Westmeath in Dáil Eireann.”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny expressed his admiration at McFadden’s stance, saying he had “no doubt that Nicky will continue her work with her customary conviction and energy”.
McFadden, 49, was first elected as a councillor in 1999 and entered the Oireachtas as a senator on the Administrative Panel in 2007. She was elected a TD in February 2011.
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So many ignorant comments. The religion of the time was founded on what was all around; nature, sun, light, dark, life/death, fear, sexuality, the hope of rebirth. Makes more practical sense than a man in a dress telling you what he thinks someone else said 2000 years ago.
Ahhh. They be the good ol’ days. When ya could leave your door open for the neighbours. We used to gather around the King and give his nipples a good old suck, just his nipples mind you. None of that gay stuff in those days. When we got fed up with him we might just have a hooley and give the nipples an ol cut, just to make sure nobody got a free suck after we battered him and threw him in the bog. Too my mind there’s too many uncut nipples wandering around Leinster house these days. I propose a flash mob nipple cutting revolution.
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