A woman who works as a seamstress initially thought her severe headaches were due to eye strain from her job, but she later discovered that her brain is under pressure because of a rare condition that could lead to vision loss.
Grace Pammant, aged 35 and a mother of five from Pudsey, West Yorkshire, ignored the pain, attributing it to long hours spent hunched over a microscope sewing tiny seams. However, her condition worsened, causing her intense discomfort and necessitating a hospital visit where she was diagnosed with a condition known to cause severe headaches and vision problems.
In May last year, Grace was diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a condition characterized by increased pressure inside the skull. This condition can potentially damage the optic nerves, leading to blindness. Additionally, she was informed of having Chiari malformation type 1, a condition where a part of the brain is pushed into the spinal column.
Following a test that revealed swollen optic nerves, Grace was urgently advised to seek medical attention. Despite being treated with medication, her symptoms persisted and her eyesight began to deteriorate, raising concerns of potential blindness.
As a consequence of her illness, Grace has had to give up her lifelong career as a seamstress, leaving her emotionally distressed and worried about missing out on witnessing her children growing up.
Struggling with daily activities and experiencing dizziness and instability, Grace is now mostly bedridden and feels unsafe going out alone.
Desperate for relief, Grace is seeking financial support for a private surgery that aims to alleviate the pressure on her brain, a procedure she fears might not be available to her through the public healthcare system in a timely manner.
Grace expressed her financial concerns due to being out of work and initiated a fundraiser to help cover the cost of the necessary surgery.
For those interested in supporting Grace’s fundraiser, the link can be accessed here.
