Gold Coaster Mark Andrews, father-of-four, diagnosed with motor neurone disease has one final wish

A Gold Coast father-of-four was enjoying life to the fullest with his family before he was suddenly told he had just a short time left to live. This is his wish list.

Mark Andrews has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, of which there is no cure. With wife Dionne, and children Maddi, 17, Amelia, 14, Alana, 12, and Billi, 10. Picture: supplied

MARK Andrews was at home waiting for the weather to dry up so he could return to work when his words started slurring.

A week later the tradie was in hospital and delivered life-changing news: he had less than three years left to live. Probably closer to two.

Mark had just been formally diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a fatal condition with no known cure. The disease affects the nerve cells, which eventually causes muscles to weaken.

The family having some fun together. Picture: supplied

Two months on, his family want to tick off the one thing he wants to do the most — visit America with wife Dionne and children Maddi, 17, Amelia, 14, Alana, 12, and Billi, 10.

He wants to take them to Disneyland and watch Amelia play basketball in July next year.

Dionne said she hoped her husband would still be well enough to travel to the US by then. If not, she would stay at home with him.

“He’s still independent, but that will eventually deteriorate,” she said, adding it was difficult for him to communicate.

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Mark Andrews with wife Dionne. Picture: supplied

“He can walk, but only short distances, so we'll have to organise a wheelchair (soon).”

The family is hoping a Go Fund Me page pegged to raise $10,000 will help it achieve Mark’s dream.

Dionne said the family was trying to stay positive.

They went all out for his 50th birthday in October, conscious it could be his last.

Mark takes a medication which slows the disease slightly. It’s expected to give him an extra three to six months.

The family want to save up for a hospital bed and an electric scooter so he can remain mobile when he eventually deteriorates, which could be in as little as six months.

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Mark Andrews has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, of which there is no cure. With wife Dionne, and children Maddi, 17, Amelia, 14, Alana, 12, and Billi, 10. Picture: supplied

Dionne still wants to renovate their Currumbin home. She said they had purchased the multiple slit-level home to remodel as their own, but everything is outdated.

She wants to ensure it’s “home” for Mark as that’s where he now spends most of his time — apart from hospital.

Mark is the handyman of the family. He wanted to put it all together, but it’s no longer possible.

It’s not what the family of six envisaged when they moved up to the Gold Coast this year.

“For the last five years he was always saying to us how good the weather was on the Gold Coast,” Dionne said.

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“I had been upskilling nursing at university and we finally decided to go. The kids were ready.

“We wanted to start a nice new journey on the Gold Coast, and it’s been horrible instead. Devastating really.”

Dionne said she had met Mark in Victoria through her friends, who had described him as a “cool” red-haired fella.

“He is a true gentleman.”

Within six months, they had moved in with each other. They were married a few years later and had children.

Despite trying to stay positive, Dionne said some days were better than others. Some days she is haunted by guilt-ridden questions.

“I’ve been nursing for 20 years and I’ve been in palliative care for eight years.

“I’ve always looked after them so they leave peacefully, comfortably. What have I done wrong?”

Dionne said she hoped that more research could be done to find a cure for the disease.

“Two people die every day from MND and two people are diagnosed with it — that’s just in Australia.”