Former Buttercup Member Was Dealt A Cruel Hand

• General News
• 26th June 2012

But Merv and his loving wife Pamela have kept the sun shining through and lots of happiness in their lives

They say that behind every great man is a great woman and one bloke who fully appreciates that sentiment is a former Buttercup Bakeries employee Merv Bell.

Merv toiled for Buttercup for 30 years but had to give up work two years back due to a very serious illness.

He has Huntington's disease, a genetic, degenerative disorder that affects muscle coordination among other debilitating conditions.

Any child with an affected parent has a 50% risk of inheriting the disease!

Merv's father had the affliction and he and his wife Pamela learned he had the disease about 15 years back.

Soon after the bad news diagnosis, Pamela commenced studies to become his carer knowing that ultimately she would have to look after her man full-time.

To she has become Merv's rock is an understatement, unless you are thinking of that really big one in the Northern Territory.

From the time of diagnosis, the onset of the disease has been slow but relentless.

Bravely, Merv worked on for 13 years after finding out he had Huntington's.

"Buttercup management were absolutely marvellous and the TWU too," said Pam appreciatively.

"The TWU has helped us a lot over the years and we maintained our membership for as long as we could," said Pam.

"If something happened Rick Burton and our union were always there for us."

There's no doubting that Merv and Pam are going through tough times but they have never let their lot in life beat them down.

They are couple who live true to their weddings vows. You get married for better or worse,"says Pam and she means it.

Since diagnosis they have pulled out all stops to ensure there has been a lot more 'better' than worse.

Merv's superannuation enabled to pay their house off and a disability insurance payout has helped the couple enjoy life to the full.

They have been around the world together and their travels included eight cruises. Making the best of life has been their motto.

As Pam says, Huntington's disease takes away a person's independence.

It's a tough hand to have dealt to you but having Pam by his side has been a wonderful blessing for Merv.

Merv and Pam are a lovely couple - you can see it in their photograph - and we wish them as much as happiness as they can possibly have in the coming years.