Taken from a MEN article 2017.

Babs is understood to be one of only four people who suffer with iron accumulation on the brain in the UK.

Her illness has started to deteriorate dramatically in recent months - prompting her parents to appeal to other people with the illness or neurological experts who may be able to help.

Doctors have prescribed medication usually given to people with Parkinson’s Disease, yet her symptoms are still getting worse.

Babs, from Irlam, is now at a stage where she struggles to control the movement of her arms and legs.

Simple tasks such as getting dressed can take her up to an hour and she now struggles to write her own name. It has also had devastating effect on her confidence.

Her physical deterioration means she has to rely on parents, Barbara and Pete Mason, to help look after her little boy Lawrence, (now aged 3 and 1/2 in 2020) , who was born before Babs’ symptoms became severe.

Her mother Barbara, said: “We are at our wits end with what’s happened.

“It’s heartbreaking for a parent to see their daughter like this. Babs has no life any more.

“We’re trying to do everything we can so she can maintain as much independence and dignity as possible.

“But it’s very difficult. Babs can fall more than 12 times a day on a bad day.

“Her walking is very stiff now and sometimes her legs just give way. It’s scary for us in case something bad happens to her while we’re out.

“We’re at a stage where we feel like no one is fighting for her.

“We’re hoping by publicising her illness someone somewhere might be able to give us some advice on treatment or medication.

“We don’t know what the future holds. We are just desperate to help improve our daughter’s quality of life in any way.”

Manchester Evening News article written Feb 2017