Dad’s life blighted by five-year battle with mystery disorder

SUFFERING JONATHAN IS LEFT UNABLE TO WALK BY UNKNOWN CONDITION

COVERED in cuts and bruises, these are the horrific injuries Jonathan Pearson suffered after a mystery condition left him struggling to walk.

The dad-of-one said he is unable to walk short distances without collapsing because of severe pain in his legs.

Doctors have been left baffled by the cause of the unknown disorder, which the 30-year-old has been battling for five years.

Jonathan, who also suffers from severe epilepsy, said his health problems have left him housebound and are having a devastating impact on his life.

His wife Jessica, 26, said: “It has taken over our lives and when there are family events, he has to stay at home.

“Jonathan can’t walk from the sitting room to the bathroom without falling over or even take his daughter, Bethany, out to the park.

“He suffers cuts and bruises to his face regularly from falling into the coffee table, the TV, anything in his way because his legs just give way.”

Former barman Jonathan, of Ashington, Northumberland, began suffering from epilepsy and the undiagnosed condition in 2012.

Jessica, a part-time nursery nurse, said: “We had gone to the corner shop and found him on the floor when we came home.

“Half of his face had drooped and he could not explain what had happened. We thought he had suffered a stroke. It came out of the blue.

“Doctors thought it was multiple sclerosis (MS) but have ruled it out. He has been seeing a specialist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary but they can’t find the triggers to what causes it.”

Since his diagnosis, Jonathan has battled depression and anxiety as he tries to learn to cope with the unknown disorder.

“It is hard when we want to do stuff together as he feels really anxious about having seizures in public,” Jessica said.

“Jonathan has to use a wheelchair when he goes out which I have to push which can be difficult. He is always worried what people will think of him.

“He also struggles with his memory and to remember the things we’ve done. We can watch a film in the afternoon and he can’t remember it by the evening. He hasn’t got a clue.”

Now, Jonathan has set up a fundraising page to raise £595 to buy a mobility scooter to help aid him when he leaves his home.

“It will make a huge difference and give him more independence when he is out,” Jessica said.

“When we met he was a very social person, he was centre of the group and quite outspoken. It will give him more confidence.”