Isles nurse on Queen’s honours list 16/6/12
A Western Isles nurse who, with her late husband John, set up Scotland’s national help group for people affected by Motor Neurone disease has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours.
Peigi Macleod from Lewis was nominated for being a driving force in establishing the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association, which currently has nearly 1000 members and is now known as MND Scotland .
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Peigi knew as a teenager she wanted to help other people and trained for nursing. But later, as a young mum, she was dealt a crushing blow when her husband John died aged just 32 years with Motor Neurone disease.
Ten years earlier they had moved to Glasgow where John, from North Tolsta in Lewis, was a police officer. By 1980 they had three boys.
Donald and Iain were already in primary school and the youngest, Gordon, had just started P1 when their dad was diagnosed with the illness for which there is no cure. There was little knowledge about the disease nor help or specialist care either.
The couple realised so many others were in the same boat and were determined to change things.
In the short time left together the couple tirelessly laboured to help others stricken by the debilitating disease.
They faced numerous obstacles but confounded the pessimists by setting up the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association within just 12 months.
Volunteers fund raised hard to invest in research and for equipment to lend to sufferers.
John died in 1983 and Peigi carried on with their valuable legacy which provides vital support for hundreds of people with the condition.
Peigi thought there was a blunder when she received the award letter.
She said: “I still can’t take it in, Goodness, I don’t deserve this. I am really humbled by this but I am only one cog in the wheel.
“The Lord blessed me with good health to carry out my work.”
She enjoys her job as a diabetes nurse which sees her treating people at clinics as well as driving around the island to visit patients unable to travel.
She said: “I like to make sure patients get the best service and support. Patients have different needs and deal with it in different ways.”
“When dealing with a chronic condition, whether diabetes or Motor Neurone, people feel the world is collapsing around them.” a situation Peigi has a deeper understanding of after her husband going through the same experience.
She recalls setting up the Motor Neurone body: “There was nothing when John was diagnosed. Now it’s a big association. It took root in my sitting room in Glasgow and the determination of my late husband really made it possible.”