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Jul 02, 2025

Renfrewshire's Lord Provost opens up on late mum's brave MND battle

The Lord Provost of Renfrewshire has opened up about her mum's brave battle with motor neuron disease. Councillor Lorraine Cameron, who serves as the civic head of the council, told how her mum Eileen

The Lord Provost of Renfrewshire has opened up about her mum's brave battle with motor neuron disease.

Councillor Lorraine Cameron, who serves as the civic head of the council, told how her mum Eileen Connell was diagnosed in 2009 and moved in with her a month later due to her struggling with day-to-day activities.

Over the next two years, Eileen would help her son-in-law hone his cooking skills to create dishes she could eat before she had a feeding tube fitted. Lorraine says her mum's death was deeply felt by both the community and family.

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Speaking about the disease she said: "My mother was born Eileen Fadian – to become Eileen Connell when she married my father, John. They were married young, when she was only 18, and became mum and dad to me in 1962. She went on to have my sister, also Eileen, and brother Ian.

"My beautiful mum, Eileen, was diagnosed in 2009 with MND. It took a long time for her to be diagnosed. Looking back, I reckon she had it for at least a couple of years before diagnosis.

"About four weeks after her diagnosis, I realised she was not coping. I asked her if she wanted to come and live with me – outlining that she would be with me to the end. She didn’t need to be asked twice, and our relationship made it a very easy move.

"She also got on extremely well with my husband, who honed his cooking skills by creating special dishes for her that she could eat easily as her MND progressed, and before she had to have a feeding tube fitted.

"She was a great mum – very liberal for her generation and wildly funny. She was young-minded, fashionable, beautiful and very well-liked.

"I know most people say nice things about folk when they are no longer here, but she really was popular and kind and people in our community felt her death deeply.

"Her funeral mass was in St Peters Church in Glenburn, and it was standing room only in that big chapel. That told us that we had probably underestimated her impact on the world.

"We knew she affected people's lives with her big heart, compassionate personality and empathy for those who needed help, but we just weren’t prepared for the outpouring of love for her.

"My mum and I were so close. There was barely a day that went by without us speaking. She was always a friend of my friends, came on nights out with us and even spent a few holidays with ‘the girls’. Her age was never an issue.

"My friends took to her like she was one of them and she joined in the fun – being able to adapt and act like she was 20 years younger. I sometimes envied her staying power. However, she could switch to ‘mum’ mode whenever needed, and without hesitation."

"I got to spend her final two years with her, chatting into the small hours, taking advantage of the times she was in a ‘good’ place, and just loving her and trying to take her fear away by occupying her mind with other things.

"She loved us dearly, and we loved her more. She also had seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and had more than enough love and fun for all of them."

In honour of her mum, Lorraine organised a ‘Hoedown’ themed fundraiser in support of the charity after being inspired during a visit to a local farm shop in a place called Barnhill Farm. It raised £34,000 for MND Scotland.

Speaking about why she choose the charity, she added: " When my mum was being cared for during her illness, I realised it took a huge team to give her the attention she needed.

"She often worried about any of her children getting MND and wanted us to do what we could to raise money, and awareness, for the condition. She, herself, took part in several fundraising events before she passed, and also, made a video for MND Scotland to be shown at the 2010 Cornflower Ball. She had incredible courage – but did it all in the hope that it would help someone else."

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