A MUM-OF-THREE has starred in a national BBC television appeal for a “life-changing” charity.

Lindsey Barley went from being a highly paid, hard-working professional to wondering how her family could cope after she was diagnosed with secondary progressive MS in her brain in 2020.

The Dunbar resident, who is married to Rob, had first seen ‘possible MS’ on her medical notes in the 1990s but, apart from one attack in 2011, had been completely well until she began struggling with her memory in January 2020.

After time off work and undergoing tests, she was finally diagnosed later that year during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The former deputy headteacher at Wallyford Primary School said: “I couldn’t remember my passwords to log onto my computer and was accused of lying about things I had no recollection of.

“When I took some time off work, other symptoms became apparent – a tremor, balance issues and dizziness.

“The worst thing about a brain condition is you don’t know if you’re feeling how you should be feeling.

“There’s no outward signs – you get up in the morning and you don’t know if you feel different, but you need help with everyday activities because everything is just slightly off.”

Now, the 60-year-old, who also taught at Burgh, Pencaitland and Dunbar Primary Schools, has starred as one of three people in The Brain Charity’s Lifeline appeal, which was aired on December 20.

The Kellie Road resident said: “There is a huge lack of information around MS out there and so much the doctors don’t know.

“So little can actually be done from a medical perspective once you are diagnosed. But the first time I spoke to The Brain Charity, it was life-changing.

“Janet, one of the information and advice officers, was the first person to actually take my questions and give me practical, factual responses. She was a fountain of knowledge, without scaring me.

“Being empowered by The Brain Charity to think there were still things I could do was like a catalyst of positivity. Suddenly, I realised my life wasn’t over – it was just going to be different.

“I thought there was no future for me, but The Brain Charity reminded me that there still was. I still had so much of my life I wanted to lead, and that was possible.”

The eight-minute film also featured Rachel, 46, from Cheshire, who spent two weeks in a coma and had to learn to walk and talk again after a brain haemorrhage.

Finally, the feature focuses on 18-year-old Sammee, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and recently moved to Liverpool from London.

Sir Michael Palin donated his time to present The Brain Charity’s appeal due to personal experience of the impact of neurological conditions. His wife was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour more than 25 years ago and he saw his Monty Python colleague Terry Jones face the effects of dementia before his death in 2020.

He said: “Neurological conditions have the potential to wreak havoc on the lives of those they affect; something my family and I can relate to. My wife was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour more than 25 years ago and it was a worrying and frightening time for our family.

“That’s why the important work of The Brain Charity is a cause very close to my heart.”

The Brain Charity’s Lifeline appeal is available on BBC iPlayer.

All funds raised go towards The Brain Charity’s Sixmas appeal, which is raising £60,000 for urgent mental health support for the one in six people left to deal with their neurological condition alone over Christmas.

Make a donation or find out more at thebraincharity.org.uk/sixmas