An independent mum-of-three was left “paralysed” in just a few months after being struck down by a devastating and rare condition.
Just over a year ago Chantel Myers was working full time looking after children with special needs, as well as looking after her own three sons, aged 19, 15 and 13.
The 41-year-old, from South Shields, started experiencing back pains last February.
Her condition deteriorated over lockdown and, in January this year, Chantel lost all feeling and movement on her left side.
This was followed by her right side - leaving her “paralysed” and in a wheelchair full-time.
“I went from being totally able to not able at all. I can’t feel or move anything,” Chantel said.
Doctors ultimately diagnosed Chantel with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) - a little known medical condition in which there is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system and how the brain and body sends and receives signals.
The cause of the disorder in her case, however, remains a mystery.
Chantel said: “They said it could be a lot of different things - it could be a traumatic event, depression, a fall or injury.
“There’s more and more people getting it, but there’s not loads of research being done on it yet.
“There’s a possibility that with the right physio I might be able to walk again or get some movement back, but it would take years and they don’t know if it’s too late.”
Chantel and the boys have been trying to manage in their own house, but have been told there is too much adaptive work to be done to meet her needs.
It means they must leave their beloved family home and move into a suitable property in less than two weeks.
The new house is already adapted - but needs flooring throughout and to be decorated before they can move in, meaning they are facing a race against time.
Chantel’s eldest son Anthony said: “The council came round with an occupational therapist and said it would be too hard to adapt our current house. My mum’s lived there since she was three, I’ve lived there all my life.
“A house came up that’s already adapted with four bedrooms, and we have to move in on June 21 - the tenancy starts then and we can’t afford two properties at once.
“They’ve given us a two week period and anything after that we get charged for.”
Anthony, who is studying policing at college, said: “It’s quite stressful - moving house is stressful at the best of times and my mum’s getting upset because she can’t do anything.
“She’s used to working her whole life and on bad days now she sometimes can’t get to the kitchen to make food
“She’s got a carer who comes in the morning and evening to help her because I’m at college and my brothers are at school."
Chantel said: “The council are trying to help but everything’s out of their hands, there’s just that much to do.
“This house was my parents’ house and there’s memories here so it’s not that I want to move, but it will be worthwhile.
“It has a downstairs bedroom and toilet so it’ll help me be more independent and help with my mental health. I’ll be able to do more things for my kids.”
She added: “My mental health’s been knocked. I’m used to being fully independent and I hate seeing the boys doing stuff for me. I just feel useless.”
Chantel’s brother and sister-in-law are now doing a 7.5mile sponsored walk on Sunday, June 13, to help with the cost of redecorating.
It will begin at the family home in Marsden and finish at South Shields Ferry Landing.
To donate go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/2em2k6k8jc?qid=37e50efede43802e2e871926d55168b4
