Doctors are puzzled by the case of twins who were diagnosed with the same extremely rare condition, eight years apart. Wendy Watkins and her husband Chris Watkins, from Cottingham, East Yorkshire, shared that their twins, Riley and Noah, 13, were in good health when they were born in March 2012.
It wasn’t until five years later that Riley began showing stroke-like symptoms, such as slurred speech and facial drooping. After collapsing, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and a rare condition called moyamoya disease. In January of the current year, Noah started experiencing the same symptoms as his brother, leading to a similar diagnosis.
Both boys have undergone surgeries and are under regular medical supervision. The family remains puzzled about the timing of the diagnoses, occurring eight years apart. Wendy highlighted the lack of awareness about moyamoya disease among medical professionals.
Moyamoya disease is described by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke as a rare cerebrovascular disorder caused by blocked arteries at the base of the brain. The twins were born via a planned C-section in 2012, and their health issues began in 2017.
The journey of medical challenges started when Riley displayed alarming symptoms while bathing with his siblings. After multiple hospital visits, he was diagnosed with moyamoya disease and a brain tumor. Following surgeries and treatment, both twins are now on the path to recovery.
Despite the hardships, the family found support at Eckersley House and aims to raise awareness about moyamoya disease. They are hopeful for more answers in the future while focusing on the boys’ ongoing health check-ups.