Why Scarborough FND sufferer has closed her business

Sharon Davies Hunt set up her own business with the help of her carers last year.

She opened a small arts and crafts gallery at Spital Farm crafts centre at Staxton which she describes as “a way to do something to make me feel like I am a worthwhile person”.

Her gallery, Kiznme arts and crafts, displayed original work as she “has always been an artist from being a youngster” and it gives her an “overwhelming sense of pride”.

Sharon suffers from a severe form of functional neurological disorder (FND), a problem with the functioning of the nervous system.

As a result, her brain is unable to send and receive signals properly.

The neurological disorder means that Sharon has non-epileptic seizures which are a psychogenic dissociative seizure that happen involuntarily, unconsciously and she has no control over them.

The 51-year-old, who lives in Eastway, Eastfield, has tried numerous treatments and takes medication throughout the day but nothing can stop them occurring.

Her longest time in a seizure is 13 hours.

She receives care for 11 hours a day from four carers, and her partner, Ginny, cares for her during the night.

Sharon, originally from Doncaster, said: “I could only get back into work through self employment as my symptoms are too severe and unpredictable to be employed in any other way”.

However, due to her symptoms becoming worse she has made the decision to close her gallery.

She added: “Due to health reasons, my FND symptoms, I’m actually closing my gallery at Spital.

“It’s been gradually affecting my symptoms so I’m going to work from home and online.

“At the heart of everything is my wish to raise awareness of this very complex disorder. For many it is life changing.

“I know there are others within our region suffering symptoms, I want them to know there is help out there, and hopefully I can help point them in a better direction to get the best care.”

The former postwoman, who was known as “Speedy” as she got the job done so quickly, moved to Scarborough 10 years ago after a visit to the market vaults.

Sharon said: “I came here for a day trip and saw the market vaults and thought ‘This is it’. A place to do my art work and sell it at the same time.”

Living with the condition for 12 years, she said: “Since moving here I have seen that there are a lot of good people.

“If I’m out and I go into spasm people ask if they can help because they don’t know what is happening, people don’t know about it.

“I used to go to Thorntons cafe regularly and if I went into spasm one of the staff used to guard me to stop people looking, and would give me and my carer a drink afterwards to make sure I was OK.”

She added: “What I hope to achieve through this is to give people with difficulties, mentally or and physically, hope and that you can achieve your dream even if you need help to do it.”

Treatments for FND sufferers

Over the 12 years that Sharon has suffered with FND she has tried numerous treatments and medication.

In the past she received accupressure and was able to come off medication for three years but it unfortunatly stopped working.

Her day now revolves around the timings of her medication as she would become “rigid” if not.