Photo: This woman could die anytime she LAUGHS

             

A woman with a mystery illness feared for her life every time she LAUGHED.
After developing a very rare brain disease, Claris Diaz could be killed by a prolonged roar of laughter or even a chuckle.
But since undergoing two major brain operations, the inspirational woman has defied doctors to complete a masters degree and embark on one of Europe’s most gruelling half marathons.
Ms Diaz, who lives in Cardiff and is originally from California, began suffering a series of Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIAs) – or “mini strokes” – at just 10 years old.

She said her school life was greatly hampered by the mystery illness which often left her unable to talk.
The 32-year-old said: “Many of my TIAs happened while I was at school and I would experience weakness down the right side of my body or even a complete loss of function.
“Sometimes I would lose my speech and occasionally I would urinate myself.
“It occurred almost every single time that I went to my band practice class where I was learning how to play the flute.
“If it wasn’t during band practice, it would happen whenever I would laugh extensively or participate in any physical activity that raised my breathing rate.”

  

Claris refrained from seeking medical help for fear of finding out the true extent of her condition, and she became an expert at hiding her symptoms, Wales Online reports.
She added: “My parents eventually became aware of the attacks and I went to see a doctor who referred me for scans.
"I had my first scan when I was in my second year of high school.”
Initial test results proved inconclusive, with many medical experts later dismissing her illness as “complex migraines”.
She added: “My TIAs calmed down a bit but then started occurring more frequently during my undergraduate years.
“Again, I was taken to see a doctor and then referred for scans with the same result, no diagnosis.
“Years later, when I was doing my Master of Research degree at the University of Glasgow, my TIAs started to occur more frequently so a friend of mine recommended I go to a hospital for treatment since one of my episodes resulted in me losing consciousness.”


It was not until her 26th birthday that she was officially told by doctors that she had Moyamoya disease – translated as “puff of smoke” in Japanese – which causes irreversible blockage of the main blood vessels to the brain.

New blood vessels develop around the blocked ones to compensate, but they are often smaller, weaker, and prone to bleeding and blocking.
Following two major operations which rerouted her facial blood supply to the brain, she was finally on the road to recovery.

“The surgeries themselves went successfully but the recovery periods, in particular after my second surgery, were difficult for me both physically and emotionally.
“I was 26 years old and my whole life changed in a matter of months.
"I had to put my MRes studies on hold in order to receive treatment and recover, but was able to return over half a year later to finish my dissertation.”

Despite her condition, Claris completed her masters degree with distinction and has now embarked on a PhD in Neuroscience at Cardiff University – devoting four years of her life to Stroke research.
And the Cardiff Bay resident is now limbering up for the Berlin Half Marathon in aid of the Stroke Association.

She added: “This will be the first time in Berlin since I had the brain surgeries, so it will be an emotional trip for me. I never thought I would want to return to this city again.
“It was difficult for me emotionally, but on the outside I was able to put my life back on a path.
“I’m now able to laugh without being afraid, which is an amazing feeling.
“I do not know where I will end up in the future, but at least I know I have the present.”
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