LITTLE MIRACLES

CELEBRATION FOR FAMILY AFTER TWO KIDS BATTLE RARE CONDITIONS

- NICK HORNER News Reporter

THE parents of siblings with completely unrelated rare conditions are celebrating a significant birthday.

Jade and Scott Page have four children in what they describe as a 'unique family' as two of them have rare diseases with no genetic connection, and one almost died.

The couple, from Solihull, noticed unusual movements with their firstborn, Ava-Rose, who was diagnosed with Dancing Eye Syndrome, also known as Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome (OMS), which affects just one in 10 million people a year.

Mum Jade said: "Ava-Rose was always a happy, curious child but one day, it was like her whole personality had changed.

"She stopped walking with me round the house and I knew as her mum something wasn't right. Then I noticed she was starting to twitch in her sleep."

Jade took her to their local A&E, where she underwent scans and tests and was told by doctors that Ava-Rose had a tumour on her spine.

The youngster was rushed to see experts at Birmingham Children's Hospital (BCH), where she was further diagnosed with OMS at one year old, thought to be triggered by her tumour.

OMS can cause unsteadiness, jerky movements and rapid involuntary eye movements. Jade said: "Ava-Rose underwent surgery to have the tumour removed. Her tumour was monitored for three years following this surgery, after which scans revealed the tumour had completely gone away it was a miracle. We can't thank the surgeons enough."