Esther Rantzen's daughter's condition that left her unable to speak or move
Dame Esther Rantzen has spoken candidly about her daughter Emily's battle with a debilitating illness that 'slowly paralysed her', leaving her unable to read or speak
Dame Esther Rantzen 's daughter Emily was just 14 when her life was turned upside down by a chronic and often debilitating illness.
Struck down following a bout of glandular fever, Emily became bedbound, unable to read, write, or even speak as the condition took hold. She was diagnosed with ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, which is a complex, multi-system disease that severely impacts a person's quality of life - and in extreme cases, can be fatal.
Reflecting on her daughter's diagnosis in 2011, Dame Esther recalled the heartbreak of watching Emily's decline. 'She never fully recovered,' she wrote for MailOnline. 'We watched helplessly as she struggled with chronic fatigue which, like a sticky web, slowly paralysed her.
'In the end she was imprisoned - bed-bound, lying in a darkened room, unable to read, write or even to speak.' She added: 'At that point she went to hospital, where they pushed her by baby-steps, one word at a time, one more minute of light each day, until she progressed into a wheelchair, and then on to her feet.'
There is no known cause of ME, and it can affect anyone. According to the NHS, the four main symptoms of the condition include fatigue, sleep problems, problems with thinking, concentration and memory and symptoms that get worse after physical or mental activity.
There is no specific test available to diagnose the condition. Instead, a diagnosis is given based on symptoms and ruling out other causes, which can take years. There is currently no cure, but treatments can help ease and manage symptoms.
Discussing this, Esther added: 'She continued to improve - slowly, year by year. But it was through management and willpower, not treatment and cure. As with many families battling an illness for which there is no known treatment, we were offered countless 'miracle cures'.'
The broadcaster's own health has been in the spotlight recently after she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Initially, Dame Esther found a lump under her armpit after feeling tired over the Christmas period in December 2022. Sadly, just weeks later, a biopsy confirmed she had stage four cancer.
In a new interview, Dame Esther's daughter, Rebecca Wilcox shared a heartbreaking health update. When asked about a new medication which was initially believed to help improve Dame Esther's condition, Rebecca revealed that this was not the case. 'I really wish that was true,' she said, adding: 'I don't think that's the case anymore,' she told 5 News.
Speaking in February last year, Esther said the thought of her own death is always present in her mind as she discussed her opinions on legalising assisted dying. She told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'My own death is constantly in my mind. It would give me so much confidence if I could also know that however the illness progresses, whatever pain it causes, wherever it strikes me next, I will still have the choices of a pain free, dignified private death surrounded by the people I love.
'I'm not demanding that everybody in the world agrees with me, I'm just saying let's debate all the issues now that we've got international evidence and we know the public attitude is in favour.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Teenager dies after inhaling cleaning product in social media 'dusting' challenge
A teenager has died after inhaling a cleaning product as part of a social media 'dusting' challenge. Renna O'Rourke dreamed of becoming famous and engaged in the deadly dare, sometimes known as 'huffing' or 'chroming', which involves consuming aerosols such as cleaning products. The 19-year-old from Arizona, USA, was taken to intensive care after suffering a cardiac arrest and was later declared dead on June 1. Her parents, Aaron and Dana, shared their trauma of seeing their daughter die after being put on life support. Aaron wrote on Facebook: 'There's a lot of things that no one should ever have to do, and today I have to do one of them. Say goodbye to my beautiful, wonderful girl Renna. 'From the moment she was born she could light up a room. Everyone that met her always said she had a special spark to her. I'm going to miss talking to her about how cute it was when she was not even 2 years old and I would say let's kick it and she would kick her foot out. Or how she would just make up songs off the cuff and have me record them.' He added: 'I'm currently stunned and broken. It doesn't even feel real. You will always be my little Ren Bear, and you will be missed more than you will ever know, by so many more people than just me.' The heartbroken couple have used their tragedy to warn others of the dangers of engaging in social media dares. Renna and her boyfriend ordered the keyboard cleaning product, named Door Dashed, via an app delivery service. Dana told AZFamily: 'There's no ID required. It's odorless. It's everything kids look for. They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn't show in mom and dad's drug test.' Renna's organs were donated and have gone on to save at least six lives. Dr Randy Weisman, from the HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, explained that the substances once inhaled replace oxygen in the body, including the lungs, with chemicals. More Trending This can cause irreversible damage within minutes as the inhaler feels drunk or euphoric, and can lead to liver failure, heart failure or lung disease. At a conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics last year, permanent markers were found to be the most common item used for dusting, appearing in 31 percent of the videos, MailOnline reported. They were followed by air dusters and nail polish, as well as paint thinner, gasoline and spray deodorant. A total of 109 dusting videos were found to have racked up as many as 25 million views. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Ireland has a US border — it could help travellers nervous about Trump's America MORE: Spanish police cause uproar over photo of older women enjoying alfresco chat MORE: The forgotten UK social networking site that wrecked and rekindled relationships
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Grimsby hospital's stroke advice prompts concerns from charity
A charity said it was "deeply concerned" after a hospital advised patients presenting with a suspected stroke not to attend its emergency Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust said its Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital was "not the most appropriate place" for those experiencing symptoms because it did not have a specialist stroke unit. The trust advised patients to call 999 for an ambulance to take them to Scunthorpe General Hospital concerns have been raised by patients on ambulance waiting times.A spokesperson for the Stroke Association said any lengthy wait for an ambulance was "unacceptable" as every minute could shorten the chance of survival. 'Journey could cost time' In a social media post on Thursday, the trust said it had seen "a lot of instances recently" of patients arriving at the trust said: "This is not the most appropriate place to be seen, as we don't have a hyper-acute stroke unit at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital."You should instead ring 999 if you've got symptoms and you'll be taken via ambulance to Scunthorpe General Hospital, which has the necessary facilities."If you do attend at Grimsby ED, you'll be sent to Scunthorpe via ambulance."The post received criticism from some social media users with a number of individuals questioning what could happen to them if they were taken person wrote: "Why as a member of the public in a state of emergency should we have to ensure we are heading to the right place?"Others questioned the time taken and distance they would travel to reach the hospital by ambulance.A user wrote: "The trip to Scunthorpe could add an extra 30-40 [minutes] on the journey."Another wrote: "If you live closer to Grimsby then maybe that's the natural place you'd automatically think you should go!" 'Systemic challenges' Samantha Jones, associate director at Stroke Association, said they were "hugely grateful" to medical practitioners who were working tirelessly under extreme said: "Despite their best efforts, systemic challenges are severely compromising ambulance response and hospital treatment times."If you spot any of the signs of a stroke in you or someone else, it's vital to call 999 straight away," she said.A spokesperson for East Midlands Ambulance Service said: "Every 999 call is assessed based on the information provided by the caller and people experiencing a life-threatening emergency are responded to as a priority."The NHS Humber Health Partnership said a hyper-acute stroke unit at Scunthorpe General Hospital provides "immediate specialist treatment and high quality care for all stroke patients in our area".The unit at Scunthorpe was opened in 2013 after an NHS report described stroke services in Grimsby as "inadequate", which led to health bosses consolidating treatment onto one site. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
'Outstanding' NHS Ayrshire & Arran staff recognised for exceptional work
Nineteen finalists were celebrated for their exceptional contributions at this year's event. More than 80 members of NHS Ayrshire & Arran staff, volunteers, and members of the public gathered to celebrate the 19 finalists of this year's Ayrshire Achieves awards. The event provided an opportunity for local people and NHS staff to recognise the exceptional contributions of health workers and volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their roles. Claire Burden, Chief Executive of NHS Ayrshire & Arran, expressed her gratitude: "I would like to thank all those who joined us to support their friends and colleagues. "This evening is a highlight of our year, allowing us to celebrate the outstanding work of our staff and volunteers. The stories shared are often emotional, showcasing how our team makes the NHS extraordinary for those in our care." The event was live-streamed on YouTube, ensuring those unable to attend could still enjoy the highlights. The evening featured a celebratory dinner prepared by the catering team of University Hospital Ayr, and a raffle that raised £640 for Crosshouse Children's Fund. On the night, the chairperson's award was won by the Clinical Development Fellows Programme which offers clinicians the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge in a specialty before making long-term career decisions. Behind the scenes award, sponsored by NHS Credit Union, was given to Zoe Fance and the Procurement Team who were nominated for their work in achieving the best possible value in sourcing and negotiating procurement deals. Margaret McLean, Suicide Prevention Lead for East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, won care and compassion award, sponsored by Unite, for her work to support families and individuals impacted by mental health issues, connected to addiction and homelessness. The Focus on frailty team in South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership was recognised as a shining example of positive collaborative working. The team won collaboration and working together award, sponsored by NHS Credit Union, for making a real difference to the lives of older people in South Ayrshire. Gaynor Campbell, Senior Advanced Nurse Practitioner Cardiology – Acute Care Unit/ Cardiac Day Unit, won shining star award, sponsored by Unite, for her influential and innovative involvement in heart failure care, both locally and nationally. East Ayrshire Children and Young People's Speech and Language Therapy Team was honoured for their work in reducing waiting times for local families, and re-designing a more person-centred service. The team won thinking outside the box award, sponsored by NHS Credit Union. The Urology Oncology Team in University Hospital Ayr won making a difference with digital award, sponsored by NHS Credit Union, for their work to reduce waiting times for routine results, after developing a new digital pathway for patients. Claire Burden added: "I would like to thank all our finalists and winners, as well as everyone who entered or nominated someone for this year's Ayrshire Achieves. This event embodies our ambitions and values for NHS Ayrshire & Arran. "Every nominee has contributed to improving the life and healthcare outcomes for the citizens of Ayrshire and Arran. Congratulations to all, and best wishes for the future." Ayrshire Achieves is funded by NHS Ayrshire & Arran's Charity Fund and is supported by NHS Ayrshire & Arran's Area Partnership Forum. A spokesperson said: "Special thanks to our sponsors: NHS Staff Benefits, NHS Credit Union, Royal College of Nursing and Unite."
