Doctors baffled by mystery illness that makes Ellie collapse suddenly
north-east parents wait to discover if she has an incurable disorder
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The parents of a seven-year-old north-east girl struck down with a mystery illness which makes her collapse without warning are anxiously waiting to hear if she can ever be cured.
Ellie Broadley was born with an unknown form of muscular dystrophy which causes her legs to give way – often leaving her with no way to protect herself as she falls.
For years the Keith youngster has baffled doctors who have been trying to get to the bottom of why she keeps collapsing “like a ton of bricks”.
Muscle research experts in England are now investigating whether she has Bethlem Myopathy – a little-known disorder for which there is no cure or treatment.
Last night her mother, Mandy, 35, said the family are hoping Ellie can be treated but fear she may become wheelchair dependant.
“Good or bad news, we just want to know what is wrong so that we can plan a future for Ellie,” she said.
“These tests are being done in Newcastle and they could take up to a year – but even then we might not know what is wrong with her.”
Ellie’s father, Kevin, 35, added: “There is no pattern to her collapsing. It happens at random times. She hasn’t collapsed at all this month, but last month it happened three times and she hurt her leg.
“The doctors are clutching at straws and the latest muscle biopsy taken from her has been sent to the Institute of Human Genetics Research Centre in Newcastle.
“They are testing for Bethlem Myopathy, which may mean she is wheelchair dependant before she is 24.
“Doctors have no idea how she was born with this because there is no family history of anything like it – it’s a mystery.”
At school, Ellie shies away from the other children as even playing is enough to make her fall down.
She has physiotherapy in Elgin and is under constant supervision at home in Land Street from her parents who also have five-year-old twin girls, Codie and Sophie.
Despite frequent bruises and injuries from her falls, Ellie doesn’t let her problems get her down.
Her father said: “She’s such a happy young girl, and nothing gets her down, not even her disability – she puts a smile on and gets on with it.
“Her carer at school says that everyone loves Ellie as her personality makes up for this. Even though she can’t run or jump like other kids her age, she loves to dance.
“Her favourite group which gives her inspiration and lifts her spirit is watching Girls Aloud – she loves nothing more than singing and dancing to their songs.”
Ellie has tickets to see the group play Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on May 27 – and is desperately hoping for a chance to meet her heroes.
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