My husband Mark was taken seriously ill in December 1999, he had been under the hospital for the previous few years for feeling generally unwell but with no diagnosis. He deteriorated rapidly and was on a life support machine for 10 weeks and on several occasions given only 24 hours to live. Although the medical professionals did a fantastic job, the cause behind his illness remained unknown. Miraculously he survived, leaving hospital after a four month battle weighing only 5 1/2 stone. It took him almost a year to fully recover with more set backs along the way. During this time he saw various consultants but still had no diagnosis. Approximately 10 months later a Professor noticed the pigmentation in his skin and read his medical history and sent him for further tests. He was almost certain thar Mark had Addisons Disease and had suffered from an Adrenal Crisis, he was right. If his Addisons had been diagnosed before his crisis it may have been avoided or at lease the doctors would've know the correct course of treatment. Mark is now healthy and takes medication to help control his Addisons. He has to carry an injection for emergencies to help prevent another crisis from occuring in the future. Although the medication helps him live a normal life it is not foolproof as it has to be adjusted when he is ill or stressed as he can go down hill very quickly. Myself, our daughter and my sister and brother are taking part in the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k on 6th May to raise money for The Addisons Disease Self-Help Group. We want to raise awareness of this rare disease, especially amongst professionals so other people can get diagnosed before it proves fatal.

M