Shania's Story

We are reaching out to you with a heavy heart to share the challenging journey of which our beautiful Shania has been navigating since June 2023. Shania’s family holiday in Mallorca took an unexpected turn when she was taken ill and spent several days in an Intensive Care Unit, followed by a further two weeks in a Spanish hospital.

Shania suffered numerous intense seizures that left her completely paralysed, unable to speak and lost her sight. After extensive testing, Shania was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, a rarer more serious infection which causes inflammation of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. At this point nothing was yet confirmed, which could explain the sudden inability to use her legs and move her body.

When it was deemed safe to do so Shania was flown home to the UK on a medical flight back to Derriford hospital, where she spent a further six weeks, where tests and discussions were carried out and a new diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder was given, triggered by the infection on her brain.

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a medical condition in which there is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system and how the brain and body send and/or receive signals. FND is a condition that is not yet well researched, heavily under-funded here in the South West and unfortunately support is very limited for patients and their family.

In August 2023, Shania was discharged from Derriford Hospital. As excited as we were to finally have Shania home, this unfortunately came with a lot of worry and uncertainty whilst Shania had to learn to adapt to her new way of life.

With any life changing diagnoses, challenges are met and unfortunately, life as Shania once knew, is now very different. Since the onset of her conditions Shania has had to learn to re use her legs and walk again. Basic daily tasks have become a monumental challenge, such as walking, where she requires a walking stick or wheelchair for extended periods of time. Shania also has a crouch like gait with pain and extreme fatigue. Although her seizures have reduced, they are still occurring, usually out of nowhere which then leaves her with severe weakness and fatigue for days.

This condition has affected every aspect of Shania’s life, including her ability to work, turning her life upside down and halting the vibrant life she once lived.

For those that know Shania, will know what a ray of sunshine she is, with her enormous heart and the kindness that radiates from her soul, it really is a blessing to have her in your life. The last six months have been the most agonising for all our families, watching Shania face the challenges and limitations brought on by FND. However, throughout all this Shania has faced everything head on, the mental resilience and robustness that she has shown has been nothing but inspiring.

Now with the positive attitude and smiley personality of our Shania, we, her family and friends are on a mission to raise awareness of FND, to help raise funds so more research can be done, to better understand the diagnosis, but our biggest mission is to help get Shania the rehabilitation she deserves!

To ensure Shania receives the best possible care and support, our friends and family will be taking on challenges to help raise funds for Shania to attend a rehabilitation centre in London where they specialise in Neurological Conditions. Shania is awaiting assessment from the rehabilitation centre in London to undergo extensive testing, to understand which programme would be best suited for her. The price of the programme ranges from £15,000 up to £100,000.

We are starting our fund-raising goal at £50,000, and we hope with everyone’s support we will be able to reach this target.

Our families are eternally grateful for any support you can give. Any donations, from sharing this campaign, talking about our challenges or for just sending positive thoughts Shania’s way, we are so thankful.

If you’d like to read more on Functional Neurological Disorder then please follow the below links:

FND Hope Charity

FND Action Charity

The money raised will go towards supporting Shania’s rehabilitation programme, any money that is not used will go straight to FND Hope Charity.