A mother shared her experience of losing consciousness on a flight before being diagnosed with an extremely rare medical condition that impacts only around 100 individuals globally.
Nia Jones was preparing to travel to Barcelona for a short getaway after just returning from a quick trip to Paris with her daughter when she suddenly started shaking uncontrollably.
She passed out and regained consciousness in the aircraft aisle with a severe headache before being rushed to a hospital following an emergency landing in France.
This alarming incident marked the beginning of a period of health uncertainties for Nia, culminating in a diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type four, a rare form of tumor.
The mother from Ruthin, Wales, recounted, “I blacked out suddenly. When I woke up, I found myself in the plane aisle with a pounding headache. I was disoriented and confused, thinking my return from Paris was just a dream until my partner reassured me.”
Nia experienced a brief period of turning blue during the episode in June 2015 and underwent additional tests upon landing in Paris, which initially showed no abnormalities.
Despite negative results from multiple brain scans, she encountered further seizures, leading to a diagnosis of epilepsy and the subsequent surrender of her driving license as a precaution.
Months later, another blackout incident revealed abnormally high calcium levels in her blood, ultimately unveiling the rare condition of multiple endocrine neoplasia type four, a condition with less than 100 documented cases worldwide.
This genetic anomaly predisposes individuals to develop tumors in endocrine organs like the thyroid, pancreas, and ovaries due to mutations in the tumor suppressor gene.
Following a surgery to remove three parathyroid glands to regulate her calcium levels, Nia has been seizure-free ever since, regained her driving privileges, and expressed gratitude for her recovery.
She emphasized the importance of raising awareness about this rare condition, noting that many individuals might unknowingly live with it, and highlighted the potential for a normal life with proper treatment.
