Mother's £150k race against time before paralysis strikes

Jessica Kill, from Streetly, has a rare genetic disorder called Ehlers Danlos, which affects the collagen tissues within the body.

The 38-year-old, who is a single mother to Finley aged eight and 16 year old Louis, has been in constant pain since Christmas due to the condition.

Despite suffering since her early 20s, she managed to stay independent and worked full time until December, when her world was turned upside down by a related condition called Cranial Cervical Instability.

The combination of the two conditions means that the 'glue' holding Jessica's body together is too weak and the ligaments in the neck are too stretched and weakened to support her head.

Her only chance of not becoming paralysed is an operation only available in the United States, where doctors have figured out a form of surgery to combat the condition with a 95 per cent pass rate.

As Jessica has to travel outside of the EU for her operation, she has been left without funding help from the NHS and has taken to crowd funding.

She said: "This is now my only hope, but it will cost at least £150,000.

"The NHS will only fund for treatment within the EU, so I am on my own in terms of funding.

"At 38 years old I have too much to live for.

"I want to be independent again and go back to being the funny mummy that usually fixes everything, instead of one that increasingly, by the day, finds it difficult and painful to even smile.

"I am currently unable to work and my amazing family and friends have to support me as I find it impossible to keep up with the demands of day to day life.

"I am in constant pain from my neck and head on top of all the pain caused by EDS.

"Week on week my Neurological symptoms are worsening.

"I have numbness, weakness and nerve pain in my arms, legs and hands.

"Walking is now very challenging for me.

"My speech has become slurred and I have constant tinnitus and increasing difficulties with hearing and visual disturbances."

So far, Jessica has raised £13,000 of her £150,000 goal on crowd-funding website You Caring.

Doctors cannot say when, but Jessica will become paralysed and need breathing machines and feeding tubes to survive without the operation.

Having the operation within three months will give Jessica the optimum results, any later and her chances will decrease.

Speaking of the impact her battle has had on her family, she said: "For my older son, it is a perfect storm because he is doing his GCSEs right now.

"There is never a good time for this but now is particularly bad for him.

"My younger son isn't so aware, he just knows his mom has to wear a neck brace and isn't as fun as she used to be.

"It is crushing to not be able to be the mom I have been in the past."

To donate to Jessica's crowd funding campaign, visit www.teamjess.co.uk or www.youcaring.com/jessica-kill-559740