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Jonathan Simms first became ill in May 2001
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A Belfast man who suffered variant CJD - the human form of mad cow disease - has died, 10 years after he first became ill.
Jonathan Simms, a talented footballer, first became unwell in May 2001.
Initially, doctors thought he had multiple sclerosis. But Jonathan's illness was later confirmed as vCJD. He was given just months to live.
After a court battle, the family won the right to use the experimental drug pentosan polysulphate in January 2003.
It had not previously been tested on human beings.
At that time, his father, Don Simms said the decision to give their son the drug was a "calculated risk based on 20 years of science".
The first symptoms that Jonathan suffered were that he became a little clumsy and had problems balancing - classic early signs of the prions that cause vCJD to damage the brain.
Jonathan required intensive care in the latter stages of his illness.
His family ran a campaign from their Highfield estate home for better treatment for victims.
He died at his home in the Highfield estate in west Belfast.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Jonathan Simms first became ill in May 2001 Related Stories
A Belfast man who suffered variant CJD - the human form of mad cow disease - has died, 10 years after he first became ill.
Jonathan Simms, a talented footballer, first became unwell in May 2001.
Initially, doctors thought he had multiple sclerosis. But Jonathan's illness was later confirmed as vCJD. He was given just months to live.
After a court battle, the family won the right to use the experimental drug pentosan polysulphate in January 2003.
It had not previously been tested on human beings.
At that time, his father, Don Simms said the decision to give their son the drug was a "calculated risk based on 20 years of science".
The first symptoms that Jonathan suffered were that he became a little clumsy and had problems balancing - classic early signs of the prions that cause vCJD to damage the brain.
Jonathan required intensive care in the latter stages of his illness.
His family ran a campaign from their Highfield estate home for better treatment for victims.
He died at his home in the Highfield estate in west Belfast.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
