A dad who had severe back pain has been told he has an aggressive life-changing condition.
Keith Bailey, from Litherland, was told he has one of the most aggressive forms of motor neurone disease (MND), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The dad-of-one complained of severe back pain, thinking he was suffering from sciatica, before months of tests revealed he in fact had the debilitating disease last year.
Keith's nephew, Lee Bailey, from Crosby, said: "He complained of back pain thinking he had sciatica. He had various tests, including a lumbar puncture, and then an official diagnosis came in September or October last year.
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"We're trying to do as much as possible to make his life as comfortable as possible. He's only in his 40s but it's a really weird age to be diagnosed with MND. Normally you're in your 20s or 30s or you're in your 50s or 60s so it's quite bizarre."
Lee, a pension analyst, revealed that his uncle is struggling with his legs, having had to leave his job. Lee continued: "He worked for a delivery company driving up and down the country.
"He's starting to lose feeling in his legs and it's going to get worse. He's using the one crutch at the moment. They don't know how long he has.
"Worst case he could have 'till the end of this year, best case he has another two or three years. It depends on how the condition develops."
Lee, along with various members of the family, are now raising money for both Keith and the Stephen Darby Foundation which helps fund and assist research into the illness. The group will be running half marathons in either the Liverpool Half Marathon or the Heaton Park Half Marathon, both in March.
Money raised for Keith will help fund a family holiday with his daughter Charlotte, 23, his two grandchildren, and his parents. The GoFundMe page said: "We aim to raise money for Keith and his family so Keith can enjoy a family holiday before he is no longer with us and to ensure we can make Keith feel as comfortable as possible in the time he has left.
"We will also be donating a percentage of the money raised to the Stephen Darby Foundation which was launched by former Liverpool, Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers footballer Stephen Darby and close friend and British Forces Veteran Chris Rimmer.
"Stephen and Chris both have motor neurone disease and have created a foundation to create awareness of MND, to fund and assist research into the illness with the quest of finding a cure for the illness, to raise funds and offer grants to those with MND, as well as creating a network to help provide information and emotional support network for those diagnosed with the disease."
To donate or read more, click here.
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