Mother, 25, is unable to talk, walk or cuddle her 13-day-old baby after being struck down by a mystery illness during pregnancy – leaving doctors baffled
- Young mum seriously unwell in an Auckland hospital due to mystery illness
- Jazmin Hunter can’t walk or talk and only communicates with thumb movements
- Also can’t hold newborn son Theo, which friends say is heartbreaking to watch
- Her mother quit her job to care for grandson and Jazmin, who needs 24-7 care
A first-time mum has lost the ability to walk, talk and eat after becoming ill during her pregnancy.
Family and friends have rallied around Jazmin Hunter, 25, who is seriously unwell in an Auckland, New Zealand hospital after she was struck down with a mystery illness during the final trimester of her pregnancy.
Ms Hunter is fully aware of her surroundings but can only communicate through thumb movements, is being fed though a tube and requires around the clock care as doctors desperately try to find a diagnosis.
She was six months pregnant when she was admitted to hospital in early January with pregnancy complications, where her health rapidly deteriorated.
Jazmin has an energetic bubbly personality and was excited about the upcoming birth of her first child before her health deteriorated earlier this year
New Zealand young mum Jazmin Hunter (pictured having skin contact with her newborn son Theo) is unable to talk, walk or cuddle her baby due to a mystery illness
Ms Hunter has met her baby son Theo, born seven weeks premature via caesarian on February 14 but doesn’t have the strength to hold him.
Close friend and work colleague Kelly Larsen describes the situation as heartbreaking to watch.
Theo also remains in hospital in the neonatal intensive care unit.
‘Baby is doing well and is brought to his mother for short intervals of skin on skin contact. While Jazmin is aware of what’s happening, she cannot communicate or cuddle her own baby,’ she wrote on the Givealittle page set up to help Ms Hunter.
Ms Hunter was 13 when she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus – a condition where fluid builds up in the brain.
She has been in and out of hospital since for countless operations.
Ms Hunter found out she was pregnant while in hospital for shunt failure last August.
Despite her condition, the legal secretary was loving and living life to the fullest before her health dramatically deteriorated earlier this year.
‘She had an energetic bubbly personality and everyone who met her liked her, wherever she went she made a lot of friends,’ Ms Larsen wrote.
‘For those who are lucky enough to know Jaz, this is a dramatic change from her normal bubbly, funny, vibrant personality.
The Givealittle page has raised almost $11,500 within five days towards travel costs, rent, utility bills, nappies and food for Theo and to help care for Jazmin as she recovers.
‘Neurologists and neurosurgeons have ordered blood tests, lumbar punctures, EEGs and MRI’s to find the cause of Jaz’s downward decline with tests showing nothing, they are stumped as to the prognosis,’ the page states.
‘Her mind is still active & she understands what people are saying but she cannot communicate other than through a minor thumbs up or down.
‘Another surgery is likely while we wait for test results.’
Her mother Barbara Hunter quit her job to focus on caring for her daughter and newborn grandson in hospital.
‘We’re just waiting to see if she’s going to come out of this,’ she told Stuff.
‘I want to walk out of here with her and baby.’
Jazmin (pictured in October) has been admitted to hospital countless times for hydrocephalus – a condition where fluid builds up in the brain.