Family supporting father with MND who can't leave home

Dwayne Wells, 38, and Kerry Hamilton-Wells, 36, got married in May last year in the company of their friends, family and then nine-year-old daughter Evelyn. 

Just three weeks later, Dwayne was diagnosed with motor neurone disease

He had begun struggling with pain in his hands and reduced movements while planning the wedding, which the pair had put down to carpal tunnel as Dwayne works at a laptop.

Dwayne in 2023 at his wedding (Image: Supplied)

However, after Kerry's mother who is a physiotherapist examined it and told him to visit the doctor, Dwayne was eventually diagnosed with anterior horn cell disease, a type of MND.

Also Read: Kevin Sinfield to 'run home for Christmas' for MND

Dwayne was in the North East when he received his diagnosis over the phone and had to share the devastating news with Kerry on a phone call. 

Kerry said: "He had to have this horrible journey on the way back knowing how horrific this disease was and having to tell me over the phone.

"Understandably, I was absolutely distraught and it was just a really traumatic waiting game then because we had to wait for a referral to the neurology clinic at Salford Royal Hospital and you just go onto Google and see all the worst-case scenarios.

"We were walking around in a daze just hoping for the best, but in the back of our minds we knew it could be the worst and then our fears were confirmed two weeks later."

Dwayne, Kerry and Evalyn at a family wedding in October 2024, just 17 months after his diagnosis (Image: Supplied)

Dwayne's neurologist confirmed he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a rare and terminal type of MND which causes the progressive loss of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement.

The couple's home in Dobcross reflects the hilly area they live in and has steps at both the front and back doors, meaning Dwayne can't leave his home without a large amount of assistance from three members of his family. 

It takes around an hour for him to simply enter or exit his home and he can no longer do other essential tasks such as eating without assistance. 

Also read: Scientists receive funding for development of MND treatment

The family are trying to renovate the home in order to make it accessible for Dwayne and restore some independence, but just changing the entrances will cost a huge £53,000.

The rest of the renovations are expected to total over £100,000.

Kerry and Dwayne will be doing the Santa dash with Dwayne in a 'sleigh' this year (Image: Supplied)

To raise funds for the work, Kerry, Dwayne and their family are taking part in the Saddleworth Santa Dash this Saturday (December 7) and have converted Dwayne's wheelchair into Santa's sleigh. 

Dwayne as Santa in his sleigh will be pulled by members of his family dressed as nine reindeer along with Kerry accompanying him as Mrs Clause and now 11-year-old Evelyn as one of his elves. 

The family has done the Santa dash together for the last seven years, but last year, it took two people to help Dwayne walk the course, which sparked the idea of this year's setup to ensure he could still participate in the much-loved family tradition.

Kerry said Dwayne was really upset at the though of last year being his last time doing the Santa Dash (Image: Supplied)

Dwayne's elves will be carrying donation buckets to help raise funds for the removal of the stairs along with a Just Giving page. 

At the time of writing, the family have raised just over £2,000 which is only four per cent of their needed funds.

Both Kerry and Dwayne are still working, with an office having been set up at their home for him.

But with Kerry working in Huddersfield, her family has stepped up to help make sure Dwayne has everything he needs, with her mother Justine Theaker travelling in her lunch break from work to give him his lunch and help him with other needs.