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WINTER 2023 InTouch | 19 Continued over ... Glennis knew there was something not quite right when her eyes started giving her trouble. At her home in Auckland, the carpet has a chequered square pattern on the stairs, and whenever she would come in the door it got to the point where she couldn’t look at the floor as it would drive her eyes crazy. “I knew there was something wrong and it just got worse and worse, she said. After many doctor’s visits I just kept getting the same answer implying that I was imagining things.” For 58-year-old Northern member Glennis Turner, her diagnosis was a longtime coming and it wasn’t until she was in her early 50’s that she got her condition named. The first Neurologist she was with never told her of her exact condition, despite it all being in his notes! Glennis then saw top Neurologist, Dr Richard Roxborough to see her, and he diagnosed her almost at once with CANVAS. “It was a relief to finally know what was going on with me and have a name for the symptoms I had been experiencing. Most people YOUR CONDITION IN REVIEW Glennis Turner, who has CANVAS, likes to keep busy and she thinks this is key to her happiness. My relief at a diagnosis would think I wouldn’t be happy being diagnosed with a condition, but for me I finally could put a name to it and start dealing with it,” says Glennis. Prior to Glennis’ diagnosis, she had been undergoing separate tests that were time consuming, but now that she had the CANVAS diagnosis, they were able to tie two of the three main problems she was experiencing together; her vision and a cough, for which she had been undergoing asthma tests and chest x-rays. People with CANVAS have cerebellar ataxia (coordination problems), neuropathy (peripheral nerve damage), and vestibular areflexia (loss of vestibular function) and combined they form a recognisable syndrome affecting balance and gait, which is progressive, worsening over time. Glennis’ symptoms are worsening, and she can sadly no longer work. Her ability to walk is also declining and she now must use a walker to get around. The main challenge for Glennis is trying to stay up-right and keep her balance. With a bad back, it has been a lesson in pacing herself and, if her back is giving her trouble, she keeps busy with activities sitting down. Unfortunately for Glennis her eyesight has also deteriorated so she can no longer drive, and she finds the loss of independence hard. “Before I could just get in the car and go anywhere I needed to. Now I have to rely on an Uber or my amazing mother-in-law who at 90, drives me where I need to go!” Glennis said. With her husband working full-time, the alone time is inevitable. “My phone is my lifeline. I try my best to Glennis knew there was something not quite right when her eyes started giving her trouble. At her home in Auckland, the carpet has a chequered square pattern on the stairs, and whenever she would come in the door it got to the point where she couldn’t look at the floor as it would drive her eyes crazy. Above: Glennis at home in her garden.