Sponsored by
Wonder woman Jane's life of pain
WONDER woman Jane Evans has defied doctors by overcoming a life of pain.
Crippled by rheumatoid arthritis for more than 30 years, she has undergone numerous operations to her joints.
Despite her condition, the 34-year-old has battled on to walk, drive and even have a child – all things experts warned she'd never do.
She now faces her biggest health hazard – fractures in her neck leading to her brain, meaning a minor accident could end her life.
But despite the prospect of undergoing another major operation, the West Boldon mum says she's determined to live life to the full.
It was a simple childhood mishap which changed the course of Jane's life.
After falling from a wall at South Shields seafront as a two-year-old, she was unable to get out of bed.
Complete rest was ordered for the youngster, with doctors initially believing she had a spinal condition.
But she was later diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which quickly spread throughout her body.
At age 11, Jane, from Boldon, became the youngest person in the country to undergo a hip replacement.
As the arthritis progressed, she endured no less than three hip and three knee replacements, and even had her toes broken and reset, apart from facing a separate battle against osteoporosis, or brittle bones.
Her condition stunted her growth and she takes eight morphine tablets a day, plus standard painkillers, and needs injections costing 12,000 a year, paid for by the NHS.
And now she faces her biggest medical challenge, as fractures in her neck could prove fatal.
But despite needing daily doses of painkillers, brave Jane, 34, has raised a son, Callum, 10, and still walks and drives through her pain – all things she was warned she would never do.
Jane's partner of 12 years, David Pattison, 37, contacted the Gazette after reading our story about Boldon Colliery mum Eileen Brown, 49,
who was dubbed South Tyneside's "Bionic Woman" after having most of her joints replaced because of her own battle with rheumatoid arthritis.
Mr Pattison, a motor vehicle technician, said: "I just think Jane deserves some recognition for what she has gone through.
"She has been to hell and back with rheumatoid arthritis, but she never complains.
"Jane has never let her problems get her down."
As a youngster, Jane met personalities such as Terry Wogan and Roy Castle, as part of a national drive on behalf of fellow rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.
But despite a lifetime of serious medical problems and numerous operations and courses of treatment at the Freeman Hospital and Newcastle General Hospital, Jane revealed that it's life's little frustrations that most get her down.
She said: "If I drop something on the floor it can take me forever to pick it up, which can get on my nerves.
"I used to enjoy going out with David, but it takes me ages to get ready, and I'm often too exhausted to leave the house by the time we're supposed to go.
"There have been times when I've thought – why me? – but you just have to get on with things."
Life with David and Callum helps Jane cope with her problems, but her biggest challenge lies ahead.
"I have fractures in my neck, which is now pushing towards my brain.
"I could die if I was involved in an accident or had a fall," she explained.
Doctors say Jane will have to undergo a major operation, but the risks are high.
Mr Pattison added: "If Jane has a fall or accident, it could sever her spinal cord.
"She needs an operation to fuse her spinal cord, but it's major surgery, and Jane would be in hospital for three months."
But in the meantime, Jane Evans remains determined to pursue as normal a life as possible.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for South Shields
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
