These parents detail their struggle to provide a happy and healthy life to their son, who was injured with a significant spinal cord injury. Written simply, and with simple emotion, their love and devotion shines through.

Our first bit of information came from a surgeon who simply told us that our son’s neck was broken and his spinal cord had been severed. Though the surgical team would attempt a surgery, in which they’d remove bone fragments from our son’s neck and reconnect his spinal cord with pins and screws, there was very little hope that he would survive the surgery. The surgeon’s last words to us, before going in to attempt a miracle, were to inform us that very few people ever survive an injury this severe.

Carers Week 2008 is currently underway in Great Britain, and surveys of attendees are producing some concerning statistics. Almost one fifth of carers said they themselves “felt ill all the time.” Based on the results of this study, it seems that we need to find some way to alleviate the load, for the wellbeing of those who care so deeply and givingly for others.

Carers across the country - who tirelessly devote their time, effort and energy to looking after a loved one - could be putting their own health at risk by ignoring symptoms or not finding the time to visit their own GP for help and advice, a survey has found.

The results of the new UK wide survey of 2,000 carers - reveal that more than three-quarters of those questioned (77%) feel that their health is worse as a result of the strain of caring (for many, up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

The survey is launched today (9 June) as part of Carers Week 2008 and highlights the effect that caring - whether on a long or short term basis - can have on the emotional and physical wellbeing of carers.

Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the MS Society, said: “It is all too easy for carers and their needs to be invisible to wider society. Every day, carers looking after a relative or friend have to put their needs second and often find themselves juggling work commitments and ill-heath on top of their caring responsibility, to the detriment of their own wellbeing.

“It is right therefore for us to mark the contribution of the UK’s thousands of carers, to highlight the daily struggle they face and call for better support and services.”

Although the survey showed that a large majority of carers admit to feeling ill, anxious or exhausted, a staggering 95% of those questioned said they regularly cover up or disguise the fact that their health was suffering in order to continue with their caring responsibilities. Worryingly, one-fifth (19%) of these carers said they ignored feeling ill “all the time”.

Almost 1 in 4 (24%) of carers said they frequently felt unable to cope with their day-to-day duties due to the physical and emotional stresses of their caring role, and a further 64% said they were occasionally unable to cope.

Carers Week supporter, TV presenter and actor, Paul O’Grady (who has personal experience of caring), said: “I was surprised to learn that around 6 in 10 of us - from all walks of life - will become carers at some time in our lives.

“Wanting to look after our loved ones is human nature - but this sometimes comes at a price with many carers having to sacrifice their own health and well-being.

“Taking a break, a holiday or even time out to visit the doctor is just not an option. I have the utmost respect for carers and believe they deserve all the support and recognition as they can get - and more”.

Carers Week 2008 is jointly organised and supported by ten national charities: Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Caring for Carers, Help the Hospices, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Neurological Alliance, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and WRVS.

It’s a situation many caregivers dread: a personal emergency knocks you for a loop and not only do you have to deal with the ramifications to your own personal life, what about the ramifications to the lives of those you care for? The Multiple Sclerosis Society is looking toward a method of bridging that gap with on-call, 24 hour ‘carer coverage’. Medical News Today reports:

The MS Society is to launch a new initiative that aims to reassure carers of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) that their duties will still be carried out in an emergency.

The free Carers Emergency Card gives 24-hour access to temporary cover for an unexpected situation and leaves the carers safe in the knowledge that their relative or friend will be looked after.

Whether it be the car breaking down while out shopping or maybe a medical or family emergency, many carers of people with MS worry that there may be a time when they will not be available to continue caring.

Jo Ridley, Carers Lead for the MS Society, said: “The MS Society Carers Emergency Card will now give carers the peace of mind that the person they care for will still be looked after if something untoward happens.

“This is a practical solution and will provide comfort to both the carer, and the person being cared for.”

The Carers Emergency Card is being launched to coincide with Carers Week (9 to 15 June). It is free to register for the card and during registration the carer will be asked for the details of three trusted contacts to be called upon in an emergency.

When the number on the card is called, leading telecare provider Welbeing will phone the named contacts and arrange cover.

Jo added: “A Carers Emergency Card system exists in some parts of the country but there are still many areas where carers are left to fend for themselves.

“Carers who already use an emergency card say that it gives them valued reassurance. By introducing this card, the MS Society hopes to plug those gaps where no service exists.”

For how to register contact Welbeing on Freephone 0800 085 8344.