A dying Angus man has vowed to keep fighting for others despite admitting “the lights are slowly being switched off.”
Keith Swankie, 43, a former supermarket manager from Arbroath, has a rare and fatal neurological disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
Mr Swankie was diagnosed in April 2012, more than two years after suffering from eye problems, and the life expectancy from onset is thought to be around eight years.
He has been battling to raise awareness of the condition ever since and the PSP Association said his public battle has done wonders to highlight the illness.
Mr Swankie said: “I know there’s not going to be a cure for me.
“They may find drugs to slow things down but if you think of a Google Earth picture of night and all the street lights slowly being switched off then that’s what’s happening in my brain.
“The cells are dying and won’t rejuvinate so its eight years tops from diagnosis, so I know my fate.
“I’ve never quit at anything in life so I will keep going until too many lights are out.
“When that happens it will be the battle of all battles.
“There are dark days but you just have to keep going or it will consume you.”
Mr Swankie met Health Secretary Shona Robison on Monday to discuss what he considers the lack of awareness and support for people suffering from PSP.
Ms Robison has pledged to ensure training is brought in faster to diagnose rare diseases after meeting with Mr Swankie at his Arbroath home.
David Mills, who is the PSP Association’s specialist care adviser, said Mr Swankie’s public battle has encouraged others to come forward.
“What Keith has done for us is fantastic,” he said.
“It has been a national story and it helps spread the message about PSP.
“We have had tremendous feedback from social media and we also know of people who have read Keith’s story and contacted us for advice.
“The principle aim is a cure but bio-medical research is so expensive.
“Secondary to that is early diagnosis – finding an early diagnostic test.”
Mr Swankie said the family previously made a video for the PSP Association to raise awareness and funds for research.
Keith’s Story PSP Association from Ros Edwards on Vimeo.
“The reason for sharing my story was to help others whether it be through donations or awareness,” he added.
“So hearing that from David meant a lot and I am so proud for my family sharing what they did in the film.
“It makes me proud of them and I am just glad to help others so they don’t have the three-year battle of diagnosis that I did.
“That was always the objective.”