Why I’m Passionate About What I Do

I first started experiencing symptoms when I was 12 after falling headfirst into the ground from a great height – needless to say I am VERY lucky to be alive and walking. I faced so much stigma whilst I was searching for answers to what was causing my symptoms but preferably how to stop them. After nearly 30 years, I finally was diagnosed with FND. During all of those years I had to learn how to manage my mind and body on my own: I researched, trialed and errored, using me as a guinea pig so I can have a functioning life.

Fast forward a few years to when my daughter was diagnosed with FND at the ripe old age of 7 after she experienced a fall and hurt her elbow (yep issues with gravity runs in the family 😊). Yet again, I was back in THAT world – the same things that I heard when I was young was being said again to my daughter (except this time they had a term for it) but the sentiment had not changed after 30 years!

From then, I became determined: There is no way, my daughter or anyone else’s child should have to face the stigma of FND. I want to fight, I want answers, I want people to hear our voices, stand up and actually listen! Those with FND are not a subclass, we are a class like any other medical condition – we need research, we need time, patience and understanding – we need a willingness to understand FND – we need a community of support!

I am still researching and trialing, still finding out what works for me and also for my daughter all whilst being a wife, mother, daughter, colleague and friend. This space is an opportunity for me to share what I have learnt and experienced – an opportunity to provide the FND community a source of support.