Imogen Thomas cries herself to sleep over mum’s has terminal sickness
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Imogen Thomas has revealed that she cries herself to sleep worrying about her mother Janet, 64, more than a year after her motor neurone disease diagnosis.
The Big Brother star, 41, said that the diagnosis had been a ‘huge gamechanger’ and explained she is now focusing on caring for her.
The model revealed the diagnosis six months ago via a heartbreaking Instagram post and has been updating her followers on the reality of caring for someone with MND ever since.
But, while she’s tried to remain positive, the Welsh beauty admitted that it has taken a toll on her and her family eight years after the death of her father.
But she added that her focus right now is on ‘making memories’ as a family.
Imogen Thomas, 41, has revealed that she ‘cries herself to sleep’ worrying about her mother Janet after her motor neurone disease diagnosis
While she’s tried to remain positive, the Welsh beauty admitted that it has taken a toll on her and her family but they are focusing on making Janet comfortable (pictured October 26, 2023)
The model has admitted that she feels jealous sometimes watching able bodied families but immediately feels guilty and says her mum can still do most things thanks to her wheelchair
Imogen and her sister have been caring for her mother for more than a year following her MND diagnosis but revealed that it has been difficult for her.
She said: ‘When you have someone so close to you diagnosed with MND it’s a massive game-changer.
‘It’s a really awful inhumane disease and we know what’s to come which is painful every day.
‘It’s heartbreaking and I feel robbed. I’ve already lost my Dad but then for her to be diagnosed with a terminal illness, that’s just it.
‘It’s a big life change. I don’t want to sit here and moan about it. They’re your parents and you love them so you just get on with it but it has been a challenge.’ she said.
The model also admitted that she feels jealous sometimes watching able bodied families but then immediately feels guilty.
She said: ‘There are days where I cry myself to sleep because I fell robbed. I see mothers and daughters going shopping and feel jealous but should I?
‘I always feel so guilty for saying that.
Imogen has said she’s focusing on making memories with her mother and travelling as much as possible while they still can, the pair recently returned from a trip to Spain
In a heart-wrenching Instagram post, the Big Brother star shared that the diagnosis had left her ‘heartbroken and in disbelief’
‘We do still go shopping, my mum comes in her chair but it’s not quite the same’
The brunette beauty is now focusing on making her mother comfortable and is trying to travel as much as possible.
Imogen said: ‘We don’t want to stop making memories and as time goes on you don’t know when it’ll stop and you won’t be able to make any more ‘
But the mother-of-two explained that travelling with a disability is extremely difficult.
She said that the family ‘always dread the plane’ and described one instance where staff left her and her mother Janet sat in the cabin for 45 minutes after all the other passengers had disembarked.
She said: ‘They just forgot about us. And it was difficult keeping her spirits high.
‘Getting onto the plane is hard as well. Because my mum has lost feeling and control in her left side she needs a lot of help and if we’re last on then people are just staring, watching us sit down and my mum hates it – she’s in tears.
‘And it doesn’t matter how hard I try and I call the airlines, it doesn’t make a difference.
In a post on Instagram announcing Janet’s diagnosis, she included a collection of videos and snaps showing herself and her daughters helping Janet manage her worsening symptoms
Imogen has said she hopes that by sharing Janet’s diagnosis she can raise awareness of MND, and help her mother to connect with others
‘You don’t get treated like a person, you’re treated like a piece of cargo.’
The model also described hotels that advertised themselves as disabled friendly but when she arrived, she found the specialist equipment damaged or not even there.
The reality star said this added anxiety and worry to what was supposed to be a relaxing experience.
She described how on a recent holiday to Spain, her mother was unable to get into the pool because of a rusty seat and the pair weren’t given disabled-friendly sun loungers and the star was forced to pay extra so her mum could enjoy herself.
‘It’s just awful. My mother burst into tears and was having panic attacks.’
She added: ‘Don’t advertise yourself as disabled-friendly if you’re not. It kept me up at night worrying about her.’
Imogen also admitted that another worry is the cost of caring for his disabled mother.
The star revealed that she has already had to use her savings and raise funds through GoFundMe to pay for specialist equipment and treatment but conceded that she was lucky to have been able to access private healthcare.
In a post on Instagram Imogen said she had decided to share Janet’s diagnosis publicly after watching Coronation Street’s emotional new storyline
The mother-of-two explained that travelling with a disability is extremely difficult and says she and her mother often dread the plane but still travel as much as possible (pictured May 30)
‘The thing is, it costs thousands. It’s not a little thing.
‘I never thought I’d be in a position where I’d have to think about these things.
‘I’m very lucky but I partnered with Changing MND so I did find out about these grants which have been so helpful because the equipment costs a fortune. My mother’s chair alone cost £2,500.
‘But we’re giving her the best we can give for her now. We’re making sure she’s comfortable and we’re there for her.
‘If she wants to go out for a meal then we do because it brings her happiness.’
But she explained that peoples’ treatment of her mother has knocked her confidence.
‘No one is outright rude but they stare and that’s almost worse.
‘My mum gets really embarrassed and people’s treatment, it can be so undignified.’
She revealed it upsets both of them and described it as an ’emotional rollercoaster’.
‘Mum’s mental health is very low because she’s gone from an able bodied person to using a wheelchair.’ she said.
Imogen also revealed that her mother Janet will try and play it off but will often burst into tears into public.
The model has partnered with Changing MND which hopes to empower people living with MND by providing grants for specialist equipment or experiences.
The charity has helped her finance specialist wheelchairs, a special toilet and equipment but said that she’s hoping to fund the rest of her mother’s care herself.
She also believes that slowly people will learn to be more accepting and airlines will change their rules to better accommodate people with disabilities and explains that’s why she posts about it on social media.
The reality television star said: ‘I show some of it on Instagram but there’s a lot I don’t to keep private.
‘People seemed to be helped by it and I’ve been helped by other people – I’ve even made friends on Whatsapp and we just talk about tips and how we’re feeling which really helps and afterwards I think “oh right well now I know this or that or not to give my mum this food or whatever”‘.
Imogen revealed her mother’s diagnosis on Instagram six months ago in a heartbreaking post.
Sharing a montage of clips and snaps documenting Janet’s battle with MND, Imogen said she decided to share it publicly after watching Coronation Street’s emotional new storyline, which has seen Paul Foreman diagnosed himself.
In the post from January 4, Imogen wrote: ‘There is no easy way to say this. Six months ago- Our mum was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).
‘For those who are not aware of MND it’s an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves.
‘It causes weakness that gets worse over time. It’s rapidly progressing, life-threatening condition that affects six people in the UK every single day. The worst part is there’s no cure.
‘It’s been a journey we never expected and hoped it would never be.’
Imogen added that by sharing Janet’s diagnosis she is hoping she can raise awareness of MND, and help her mother to connect with others ‘who understand what she is going through’.
‘The Wednesday’s Coronation Street storyline featuring Paul and Billy struck a chord we never expected,’ she wrote.
‘It felt like watching our own emotional rollercoaster, the ups and downs of trying to pin down what’s going on.
‘Can you believe we went through three misdiagnoses? Spent a fortune in Harley Street to be told anything but MND.
‘We even sent my mum to rehab in Leeds for a month believing she would make a miraculous recovery as she was told she had FND [Functional Neurologic Disorders] which is a neurological disorder. Looking back now her determination during rehab was incredible.’
‘My sister and I are heartbroken and still in disbelief. It’s hard to wrap our heads around. We just don’t want to believe it.
‘My mum has some great friends. We would love to connect with others in the same situation to share experiences and support each other.’
‘Life is short and precious. We are grabbing it with both hands for as long as we can ❤️.
‘As I said above my mum and I would love to connect with anyone experiencing the same as us.’
Motor neurone disease is a rare condition that mainly affects people in their 60s and 70s, but it can affect adults of all ages.
It’s caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones. These cells gradually stop working over time. It’s not known why this happens.
If, like Imogen’s mum, you’re living with Motor Neurone Disease or know someone who is, and would like more information about the grants and wider support available – or to donate to the charity – please head to www.challengingmnd.org
