Groom battling MND marries bride in Glasgow ceremony after coronavirus restrictions lift

Brian Murphy, 48, married his partner Gillian at their wedding at a hotel in Glasgow on Thursday where they were surrounded by 39 of their closest friends and family, many of whom they hadn’t seen since before March 2020.

Gillian was walked down the aisle by her two sons Sean, 20, and Scott, 17, while Brian’s daughter Catherine, 14, was a bridesmaid and his son Jack, 20, was best man.

They also live streamed the ceremony to those who couldn’t attend, and many dressed up for the occasion holding their own garden parties at home.

READ MORE: 'Game-changer' building is taken over by HMRC in Glasgow city centre

Gillian said: "I couldn't tell you who else was in the room, I was just focused on Brian. I think today shows everyone how much we love each other, and has made people look at their own life and what's most important to them."

Brian added: "I’ve tried my best to keep a positive attitude, especially for the kids. Trying to be positive helps you to actually feel positive. I don’t want to waste my life away thinking about MND - I want to make the most of my life and enjoy it while I can, with the people I love.”

READ MORE: Superfood and health bar Juicy to open second Glasgow premises in Silverburn

Brian, who lives in Anniesland, was given a heart-breaking diagnosis of MND just six months into his new relationship with partner Gillian, The Glasgow couple, who worked together at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, got together in 2018 and just six months later, in February 2019, received the devastating news that Brian had MND.

MND is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. This may cause someone to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or breathe unaided.

Brian, who was a consultant cardiologist before he had to stop working due to the illness, said: “When I was told I had MND I had not long begun my relationship with Gillian and was supposed to be starting a new chapter in my life. Then to be given that diagnosis was heart-breaking. I was utterly devastated. I knew what it meant. There’s no hope of treatment, of stalling it or getting any better. So, you have to cope with thinking about that, on top of the physical deterioration.

“I thought Gillian and I couldn’t continue our relationship, but she’s stayed with me and has been an amazing support. I couldn’t have been looked after better and know I would be much worse without Gillian in my life.

“The worst thing I’ve ever had to do was telling my kids about the diagnosis. I just can’t help thinking about everything I’ll miss in their lives and knowing I won’t be there for them. Days like our wedding day are so special, creating these precious memories together.”

Gillian, 49, a specialist nurse in cardiology, said: “I’m totally in love with Brian and there wasn’t one part of me that considered not being on this journey with him, even though he gave me the option. Some people go through life and never experience this feeling with someone or have what we have together – I wasn’t going to give that up.

“We both knew it was going to be a massive challenge but being a nurse I knew what was going to be involved and I feel like that knowledge has helped us stay one step ahead of MND. We work really hard at finding the balance between me caring for Brian and maintaining our relationship as partners.”

In March 2020 when the country went into lockdown, Brian and Gillian initially made the decision not to see each other, because Gillian was still working at the hospital.

She said: “I was so scared of bringing covid back from the hospital to Brian so for the first seven weeks, other than dropping off food and supplies, we didn’t see each other. It was so hard not being together when you don’t know how much time you have.”

Brian, who is now bound to a wheelchair and uses a ventilator to help him breathe, said: “Spending time with the people you love is what matters. It enriches your life. I live alone and spending seven weeks shielding by myself at the start of the pandemic was horrendous. It came to the stage where I thought, ‘I have a terminal illness. I don’t know how much time I’ve got and I’m not spending it alone.’"

Then in November 2020 Brian decided to pop the question to a speechless Gillian over a candle-lit dine-in-at-home meal.

Gillian said: “I honestly had no idea he was going to propose. I was so shocked it took me a few minutes to say anything - I think he thought for a second I was going to say no!

“Working together for years I have seen Brian in emergency situations, literally life and death, and he has always been as cool as cucumber, but he was visibly sweating and anxious when he asked.”

Brian added: “I was definitely nervous but honestly this is the only decision in my whole life that I knew was 100% right, no hesitations.

“We wanted to get married as soon as possible and originally thought about going to a registry office, but with only two witnesses it meant we couldn’t even have our four kids there. So, we held off until restrictions eased. We’ve finally got here and it’s all worked out amazingly.”

Later this year, Brian's son Jack will compete in Ironman Portugal to raise money for MND Scotland.

He has set up a JustGiving page and asked anyone to give a gift to the newlyweds by donating to the page.

On his page, Jack said: "My dad was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. I have witnessed first-hand how this horrific disease has gradually debilitated him. At first, he was walking with a limp, which progressed on to having to use a walker and then a wheelchair. Now he is unable to dress himself, get out of bed without help, get anything to eat or go to the toilet on his own. This is something that no one should have to go through."

Brian added: “Today means so much to both of us and it has exceeded all my expectations. I’m so glad we were able to share the day with friends and family, and also raise awareness of MND. We’ll continue doing what we can for the cause, and I’m so proud of my son Jack who’s taking on an Ironman later this year for MND Scotland – so if anyone wants to get us a wedding gift they can donate to his fundraising page!”

Give a gift to Brian and Gillian by donating to Jack’s Ironman challenge for his dad at HERE or www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jackmurphyironman.

Visit www.mndscotland.org.uk for more.