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A month before my sister gave birth She was affected by a severe case of Bells Palsy. Nicola gave birth to her second daughter, Maisie, having to tape her eyelid shut, only being able drink through a straw and with piercing pain throughout her face. At a very happy time as a family there are very few photos of Nicola and Maisie as Nicola had to deal with a severe trauma to the face.

Bells Palsy (Facial Palsy) is a condition a weakness of the facial muscles, mainly resulting from temporary or permanent damage to the facial nerve. When a facial nerve is either non-functioning or missing, the muscles in the face do not receive the necessary signals in order to function properly.

After 10 years you see my beautiful sister and the recovery she has made from the outside. What isn’t shown is the ringing in her ears she still gets and sensitivity to loud noise, the shooting pain in her face, the muscle spasms, loss of sensation in parts or her face and still not being able to close her eye or blink properly.

Most significantly, Nicola lost the confidence in her smile. Smiling and laughing is key to how people communicate and make you feel better, and when the ability to smile is taken away, the effect on a person’s emotional well-being can be quite devastating.

Each case of Facial Palsy is different. It can disappear in a week or remain long term. There is no guaranteed cure and the guidance given by doctors can be minimal. This can mean many sufferers of Facial Palsy struggle on alone. Thankfully there is help. Facial Palsy UK helps sufferers’ deal with the physical and emotional impact of Bells Palsy. Through Facial Palsy UK Nicola spoke and connected with fellow sufferers and was referred to the NHS hospital Queen Victoria in East Grinstead last year. The treatment, support and guidance has provided hope and recovery plans for Nicola and for all Facial Palsy sufferers.

My sister has suffered in silence never letting on her pain, the emotional scars and insecurities. I am running the London marathon to raise awareness of a fantastic organisation, Facial Palsy UK, and all the excellent work they do. Let's help Nicola and all sufferers get their smile back.

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