A mum has spoken out about a genetic condition that affects her and her son and can plague the body with tumours.
Rachel Pucio, from Southport, has revealed that she and her son both suffer from neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic condition that causes tumours to grow along people's nerves. Although Rachel admitted she has managed to live a relatively normal life, her only son has been plagued with benign tumours across his body.
Nathan was diagnosed with NF when he was just nine months and also has ADHD, autism and scoliosis. With his having NF and scoliosis, he had been in and out of hospital from a young age and had his first operation at the age of two.
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Rachel, 35, who works at Morrisons told the ECHO : "When Nathan was born we had him tested to see if he had neurofibromatosis and was diagnosed at nine months old. We'd obviously kept in touch with Alder Hey but when he was two we noticed he had two lesions on his back which ended up being benign tumours so we had to get them removed.
"Since then it's been constant MRI scans every six months, back and forth from the hospital, and then they realised he had scoliosis when he was five years old and had to wear a back brace for a while to help with the scoliosis. Then the scoliosis continued to get worse and they said surgery was needed so he had an operation in July last year.
"He's just had another one to extend the rods about four weeks ago now. Alder Hey is an amazing hospital with amazing support. There's always a nurse at the end of the phone to help if needed."
Rachel is now raising money for Alder Hey after the constant support over the last six years. She will be abseiling down Liverpool Cathedral later this year in hope of raising as much money for the children's hospital as possible.
"I'm raising money for Alder Hey because they're an amazing hospital. Nathan spends so much time at the hospital with appointments and stays. The care there has been fantastic and I just wanted to raise money because Alder Hey has kept him going."
To read more about the fundraiser and to donate, click here.
