Big Brother legend Imogen Thomas ‘heartbroken and in disbelief’ as she reveals mum’s devastating health diagnosis
BIG Brother star Imogen Thomas has shared her 'heartbreak' and 'disbelief' after her beloved mother was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.
Imogen, 41, has spoken out about her mum Janet's devastating diagnosis after watching the latest episodes of Coronation Street.
The Welsh reality star said character Paul's MND storyline has "struck a chord we never expected".
Alongside a video montage of her mum, Imogen said: "There is no easy way to say this 💔
"Six months ago- Our mum was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). For those who are not aware of MND it’s an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves.
"It causes weakness that gets worse over time. It’s rapidly progressing, life-threatening condition that affects six people in the UK every single day. The worst part is there’s no cure.
"It’s been a journey we never expected and hoped it would never be."
Imogen went on to explain that she and Janet had decided to speak out publicly for several reasons.
The star, who has two daughters of her own, said they are keen to raise awareness of MND and also that her mother is hoping to connect to others "who understand what she is going through".
"The Wednesday’s Coronation Street storyline featuring Paul and Billy struck a chord we never expected," Imogen continued. "It felt like watching our own emotional rollercoaster, the ups and downs of trying to pin down what’s going on.
"Can you believe we went through three misdiagnoses? Spent a fortune in Harley street to be told anything but MND.
"We even sent my mum to rehab in Leeds for a month believing she would make a miraculous recovery as she was told she had FND [Functional Neurologic Disorders] which is a neurological disorder. Looking back now her determination during rehab was incredible."
Imogen continued: "My sister and I are heartbroken and still in disbelief. It’s hard to wrap our heads around. We just don’t want to believe it.
"My mum has some great friends. We would love to connect with others in the same situation to share experiences and support each other."
Imogen finished her emotional Instagram post by saying she and her family are trying their best to stay positive "by ticking off the bucket list".
She added: "Life is short and precious. We are grabbing it with both hands for as long as we can ❤️.
"As I said above my mum and I would love to connect with anyone experiencing the same as us."