From medical research to raising money through music
MS changed my life. Of course it did. But my story’s not quite what you’d think. In 2005, I was a medical professor and NHS consultant, running a successful research group. In my spare time, I played in a ceilidh band. Life was good.
Then one day, during a lecture tour, I woke up in a hotel room exhausted and with no feeling in my left hand and arm. After developing other symptoms I learned that I had MS. Looking back I had been having minor symptoms for about ten years. Suddenly I couldn’t work, but I was almost more upset that I couldn’t play music. I cried a lot. Then something remarkable began to happen.
A choice to make
After treatment and a few weeks off work, my energy returned and my arm and hand improved, though never came back to normal. I went back to research work and although I couldn’t do clinical procedures, I started seeing outpatients again. While there was some difficulty, I also got back to playing guitar. The first gig with the band was challenging but very special.
I realised that the future was now uncertain and that it was important to get the most out of every day. I carried on at work for a few more years, with some ups and downs, but pacing myself better. Eventually, I decided to leave work to do other things while I was able. I loved my job, but I haven’t missed it for a minute!
New directions
What to do? I finished a novel which I had started years before. Remarkably it was about MS, although I had written the outline about 6 years before I was diagnosed with MS. Life was imitating art and not in a good way. But I think I wrote a better book, given my new insights into what it meant to have MS. “The Cure” was published in 2013. I got more involved in the arts and became chairman of our local book and arts festival.
Then, encouraged by friends in our local folk club, I began writing songs and tunes and eventually produced an album “Life Stories” in 2018, with all proceeds going to MS Society Scotland. The other musicians and sound engineer gave their time for free and the launch concert was amazing, with thirty-nine musicians playing at the end of the evening!
After a couple more concerts the pandemic came along. Live music stopped with lockdown. I had written some more songs and tunes and organised an online concert on Zoom. Over 100 people tuned in and they encouraged me to make another album, so I recorded a solo album “Through the Window” at home. It was a struggle, with lots of takes for some of the instruments when my hand was playing up, but it was fun to do and has sold quite a few copies. I'm currently writing a third album.
What have I learned?
How would my life have gone if I hadn’t developed MS? Would it have been better or worse? I’m not sure. I have been lucky in coping with my MS symptoms. Some days are not great, others much better. I have certainly learned to appreciate what I have and to make the most of each day.
Without MS, I would have done more in medicine and medical research, but I’d probably never have written that novel, or those songs, or done these concerts, or met people who’ve been so kind in supporting me. For anyone newly diagnosed, my advice is to go forward with an open mind, and think not just about the downsides, but also about the possible opportunities you have.
You can stream or download Dave's music on his Bandcamp page. And you can buy his CDs on his website. All proceeds go to MS Society Scotland.
