Family and friends have rallied around a mother-of-one who has received a life-changing diagnosis.

Summa Barker, from Rushenden, was given the devastating news she had stage two chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) earlier this month.

The 22-year-old has lost the use of both legs and her left arm, has severe memory loss and impaired hearing.

Last Monday, her cousins Maria Horner and Leah Harvey set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Summa and her family and awareness of the condition.

Mrs Horner, of Manor Grove, Sittingbourne, said: “About three months ago, Summa started to get poorly. She had severe sickness, dizzy spells and memory loss.

“She kept going to the doctors and they diagnosed her with depression. They thought she had post traumatic stress disorder after the birth of her daughter Jasmine because she was born three months early.

“She then collapsed at work about a month ago. She went to hospital for lots of tests and they saw she had scarring on the brain.

“After more scans, they found the scarring was so severe that she has been undiagnosed with MS since birth.”

Mrs Horner said the diagnosis had been a massive blow for Summa and her family.

“Anyone who knows Summa understands how much her life has now drastically changed,” she said.

“She was such an active, typical 22-year-old who lived life to the max. She’s a qualified hairdresser, has a brilliant social circle and was on her feet 24/7 with Jasmine, who is one, and now she is unable to do any of it. It’s heartbreaking.”

Summa, who went to Minster College and worked at Beez Neez in Sheerness, is undergoing blood dialysis to get her in the best position to start a trial treatment.

“Summa needs as much support from her mum, Mandy, and dad, Scott, to help her deal with this life-changing illness,” Mrs Horner said.

They set up the fundraising page to raise awareness of how MS can change someone overnight, regardless of their age, and to help with expenses such as travel to and from King’s Hospital. Half of the money raised will go to the MS Society.

More than £2,400 has been raised. To donate, click here.

A pub crawl to raise money for the appeal will start at Rushenden Club, in Rushenden Road, at 11.30am on Sunday, July 30. All welcome.