Lynn Gilderdale

Activity Regime Made Her Worse
"Lynn Gilderdale was struck down by ME after receiving a vaccination at age 14. When Lynn was first diagnosed with ME, she was put on an activity regime that consisted of doing certain amounts of exercise, schoolwork and socializing regardless of how she felt.  As a result, Lynn got worse and worse, but it took her parents a while to realize that Lynn deteriorated as a result of the activity regime.  When Lynn’s parents sought the help of an ME specialist, they were told that the specialist had never seen such a severe case of ME and that he couldn’t help them.  Instead, he referred Lynn to a psychiatrist who administered a truth serum to Lynn without her parents’ consent to find out what was really wrong with Lynn.  To the psychiatrist’s surprise, Lynn didn’t reveal any deep dark secrets about what had happened to her because there was nothing to tell; she was really sick.  Nevertheless, the psychiatrist diagnosed Lynn with having hysteria. Under the care of psychiatrists, Lynn’s condition continually worsened. She was totally bedridden, her legs were paralyzed and she couldn’t move her head from side to side. She couldn’t swallow anything; she was tube-fed all the time. She had terrible spasms and pain. She couldn’t read or write and she couldn’t speak. She was ill for nearly 17 years.

After Lynn died, the autopsy that was performed by an ME specialist showed that Lynn had ganglionitis, i.e., an infection of dorsal root ganglia of her spine, typical for a neurological illness."

The Trial of Lynn's Mother, Kay Gilderdale
Mrs Kay Gilderdale admits aiding and abetting suicide of her daughter

Article: ME Association

"A FORMER nurse accused of trying to kill her daughter after watching her battle a serious illness for 17 years yesterday admitted aiding her suicide.

Kathleen Gilderdale, 54, known as Kay, was supported by family and friends as she entered her plea at Lewes Crown Court."

Mother Charged With Attempted Murder of ME/CFS Daughter

Article: Fighting Fatigue

"Kay Gilderdale, 54, has been charged with the attempted murder of her bedridden daughter who suffered for 17 years from ME/CFS. Kay was the full-time caregiver to her daughter, Lynn Gilderdale, 31.  Lynn died last December after a suspected morphine overdose reported by Mrs. Gilderdale’s ex-husband, Richard, a former police sergeant.  If Gilderdale is convicted, she could spend the rest of her life in prison."

Mother cleared of ME daughter's attempted murder

Article: BBC News

"A mother has been found not guilty of the attempted murder of her severely ill daughter who had ME. Bridget Kathleen Gilderdale, 55, of Stonegate, East Sussex, was cleared of attempting to murder Lynn Gilderdale by jurors at Lewes Crown Court."

Verdict's family statement.

My mother, Kay Gilderdale, has today been found “not guilty” of attempted murder of Lynn Gilderdale my sister, in early December 2008.

On behalf of Mum and Lynn’s family and friends, I would like to thank the judge and the jury for their compassion and fair and just considerations.

We believe this “not guilty” verdict properly reflects the selfless actions my mother took, on finding that Lynn had decided to take her own life, to make her daughter’s final moments as peaceful and painless as possible.

These actions exhibit the same qualities of dedication, love and care that Mum unwaveringly demonstrated throughout the 17 years of Lynn’s severe illness. I am very proud of her, and I hope that she will now be afforded the peace she deserves to rebuild her life and finally grieve the death of her daughter.

Thank you very much.

This statement was issued by Lynn's brother, Stephen, after the verdict was issued.

Media about Lynn Gilderdale
Lynn Gilderdale: how a 14-year-old was condemned to a life lived from a bed

Article: The Telegraph

"At the age of 14, Lynn Gilderdale was the picture of health. Sporty, athletic, she excelled at ballet, pursued her love of horses with vigour and was an accomplished musician."

Trapped by ME, Lynn Gilderdale made it clear she wanted to die

Article: The Guardian

"Live Journal was the one place where Lynn Gilderdale felt safe uttering her deepest, most troubling thoughts. Using a ­specially-designed handheld ­computer, and ­adopting the pseudonym Jessie Oliver, it was on the internet networking forum that she shared her desire to die with her closest friends."

Lynn's Diary
'''The ME victim's diary of despair: 'My body is tired and my spirit is broken. I have had enough, I long to die

Article: The Daily Mail

"In the months leading up to her death in December 2008, Lynn Gilderdale kept an online diary - available only to her close friends and family - where she chronicled her miserable life trapped inside a body paralysed from the waist down by ME.

It was typed out agonisingly slowly on a hand-held computer then transferred to an internet site.

Headed with the words 'DNR (Do Not Resuscitate), it described how desperate she was to end it all and the harrowing dilemma faced by her parents who, while desperate not to lose their daughter, were all too aware of her wish to commit suicide.

Here we print extracts from Lynn's journal - a deeply poignant testimony to just how unbearable her life had become."

Why I want to die - heartbreaking letter of mercy-killing daughter Lynn Gilderdale

Article: Mirror

Why I want to die - heartbreaking letter of mercy-killing daughter Lynn Gilderdale "The nation's hearts went out to loving mum Bridget Gilderdale this week as she was cleared of attempted murder for helping her paralysed daughter kill herself.

Now the full extent of 31-year-old Lynn's suffering with ME can be revealed as the family release her emotional online diary.

In it she tells her friends that life had become a misery and she "really, really, really" wanted to die.

She spells out how she'd had enough of constant pain and how she had previously tried to take her life.

Here is an edited version..."