A MOTHER suddenly struck down with a debilitating neurological disease, who now needs a wheelchair to get around, waited a year to be diagnosed.
Jo Pawley, 32, of Newlands Spring, Chelmsford, was sitting at home when she felt a sudden pain.
"It was horrible, I had a pain in the centre of my back, up my right hand and in my head that was so bad I could see my foot twisting in front of my eyes," said Jo, who has limited use of her right hand.
As a mother with two young children, Jo led an active life until Dystonia left her using crutches and a wheelchair to get around.
She said: "I have limited use of my right hand, if I'm having a bad day I can't even grip a glass.
"I need the help of friends and family so much now.
"One day I was fine – the next I needed a wheelchair."
Jo was looking forward to going back to work in the bar trade after raising her two children when she was suddenly hit by the disease in April 2013.
She was given a temporary diagnosis in March this year that was not made official until two weeks ago.
Dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes muscles to move, twist and tremor, with sufferers affected in a variety of ways.
It can be either hereditary, caused by physical trauma, infection and in Jo's case, a reaction to pharmaceutical drugs.
Jo now wants to raise more awareness of the condition as many patients and even doctors often confuse the disorder with other conditions.
"At first doctors thought I had a stroke and it wasn't until I went to the National Hospital for Neurology in London that Dystonia was suggested," said Jo.
"It's so important more people are aware of how it can be caused, if just one person is saved from this then it will all have been worth it."
On Bank Holiday Monday Jo organised an event at the Green Dragon in Braintree to raise awareness of the disease and raised over £400 to go towards research.
Her friends Aisha Cattermole made the cakes and assistant manager at the Green Dragon, Carina Keeble, helped arrange the event when Jo was suddenly taken to hospital just days before the event.
"There's no known cure, but I won't let it beat me," she said defiantly. "It went so well," said Jo who is married with a 13-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son.
Many people donated items to be raffled to pub-goers, with revellers enjoying a live band, face painting, a bouncy castle and a cake stall.
"It was overwhelming, people who hadn't heard of Dystonia, people I'd never met before, were all getting involved.
"I'm just so happy at how well it went, it was so touching the amount of people who took part and gave so generously.
"Three guys were doing an Ice Bucket Challenge in the beer garden and decided to give to Dystonia," she said.
Jo is now in the early stages of planning her next fundraising event that she hopes to hold in November in Chelmsford.
