'I thought I'd hurt my leg playing tennis - now I've been told I might have just months to live'
17.12.2023 - 10:11
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A sporty mum-of-two, Beata Struzik, 51, who hurt her leg playing tennis was shocked when doctors told her she had an incurable illness - and may only have months to live. She was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a condition that affects the brain and nervous system, causing weakness that gets worse over time.
Beata is now unable to shower herself, walk unaided and has lost the ability to speak so has to use an iPad to communicate to her daughter Klaudia and son Adam. It's unknown how long Beata has left to live, but the life expectancy for a MND patient after a diagnosis is around one to five years.
Klaudia thinks Christmas will be 'really devastating' as Beata is now unable to do anything to get into the festive spirit. She said: "I feel really sad because Christmas was my mum's favourite time of the year."
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"Last year she was able to go downstairs, cook her favourite foods and sing Christmas songs but this year she's not able to do any of that." It is really devastating for all of us. My mum spent the first few days crying and just not accepting what it is.
"We spent two years hoping it would still get better and to hear it's something that has no cure, it was really devastating for all of us. It was very difficult."
Symptoms of MND include muscle weakness, twitches, weight loss slurred speech and difficulty swallowing, which all get worse over time.
After her diagnosis by Polish doctors in March, Beata had to give up her job as a self-employed cake maker. Klaudia, 22, from Bradford., left her job