Tanya's been ill for 15 years, but two years ago her dream came true...
Tanya Harrison is 25 and has just started her third year at the Royal Holloway University of London studying for a Media Arts degree. Not much unusual in that, except that Tanya has ME or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. When she was ten, Tanya began suffering from intense spinal pain and severe headaches. She was in and out of hospital for years, spending much of her time in bed or in a wheelchair, and cared for by her mother who had given up her job to look after her daughter. At 15 years old she was diagnosed with ME, but through sheer hard work, she still managed to get 4 A levels. Two years ago her dream came true - to go to university. Christine, Tanya's mum and went with her.
Tanya, "I was worried the students were going to ignore my mum, and I was worried they wouldn't talk to me, because they'd see the wheelchair and then they see this old person standing over me, they would think, 'unchartered territory' - don't go there!' But I was amazed how warm the students are and how they involved me from the start - and my mum - which was a big surprise because I think she expected to be out on the sidelines."
Christine, "Tanya can't walk, stand, support her head unaided. She needs help with all her personal needs, toilet and washing, dressing. I respect Tanya's space, and her privacy and who she is as a person at all times. It's so important when someone has lost so much of their independence to give them what control they can."
Student life is usually breaking ties with family, but Tanya isn't frustrated by the presence of her mother, "I wouldn't be here without her. It is a reminder that I'm ill, but she's given up so much of her life to give me some life. I feel a bit guilty but if I think about that, that makes me feel bad about wanting something for myself."
Christine, "I've felt guilty that I haven't been there equally for my son. Tanya is all-consuming. I never saw my son's university until he graduated. I also feel very guilty about - when I go down to the kitchen to prepare a meal, I see other people and a conversation will start spontaneously - and I'll go back 10 - 15 minutes later and Tanya will ask where I've been..'I'll say someone was talking and I do feel very guilty about that ... it shouldn't be me, that should be Tanya there."
Mother and daughter have developed a close relationship, but it wasn't always so. Christine, "We were often at loggerheads about what she was going to do, but since she's been so ill, and needed care, that's gone - we've become best friends and confidantes."
Tanya, "I used to be someone who wouldn't have time to have this idyllic relationship, but, I was always independent, but my illness has given this to me, so I'm thankful for that."
Chris: "I'm happy that we've got that close relationship, that we can grow together, but being a mum, I wish she was out there leading her own life."
