Plea from brave mum Kim after her three children are struck down by cruel disease
A brave mum whose three grown-up children all have a degenerative brain condition has joined forces with Pendine Park to launch a new awareness campaign.
Kim James, from Llay, near Wrexham, made an emotional plea for more research into Huntingdon's Disease amid renewed hope of a cure for the cruel hereditary illness.
She is a regular visitor to Pendine Park's Penybryn Care Home in Wrexham where son Christopher Bennett, 36, and daughter Elizabeth, 29, are both residents.
Her other son, Jonathan, 31, also has the condition but is still able to live independently for the time being.
Kim and her husband, Ian, who is stepfather to the siblings, are working with Pendine Park to raise awareness of Huntington's disease which they describe as Parkinson's, Motor Neurone Disease and Alzheimer's all rolled into one devastating condition.
She said: "It's very rare to have three siblings develop Huntington's disease and even rarer that all three developed Juvenile Huntington's in that they were so young when they were diagnosed.
"Having Christopher and Lizzie together in Penybryn, which specialises in brain injury and neurological conditions, is a Godsend. Until February I was Lizzie's full time carer but she has settled in Penybryn very quickly.
"Christopher has been here four years now and to have him settled is wonderful. It's the first place he has actually been able to settle.
"Pendine Park is amazing in as much as it isn't just the resident that is supported, the whole family is given all the help and support they need. And the staff are interested and prepared to listen to suggestions.
Penybryn manager Tracey Cuthill revealed she and her staff care for a total six residents who suffer from Huntington's disease including Christopher and Lizzie.
She said: "There is no doubt Huntington's is a terrible disease. It's vital we raise awareness of the disease and how it manifests itself in those that suffer from it.
"It's wonderful that Kim, Ian and Jonathan have talked about their experiences so people can gain an understanding of this awful condition affects the central nervous system and brain.
"It causes involuntary muscle movement and changes in the brain that lead to emotional swings that can result in challenging behaviour and an inability to control emotions."
Stepfather Ian James explained: "Lizzie can no longer swallow, walk, talk or move independently.
"But she is still acutely aware of everything that is being said or done around her. In Christopher, Jonathan and Lizzie's case it was their dad that carried the gene."
Kim urged pregnant women to get themselves checked if they knew of anybody in their family who had the Huntingdon gene.
To find out more about Huntington's Disease go to www.hda.org.uk
