It’s a rare disease with only 3,000 confirmed cases worldwide, but Stiff Person Syndrome is a crippling disease that can change a person’s life forever.

WHIZ reporter Jennifer Jarrell has the story of a local man and his family as they cope with the disease.

Imagine not being able to do the simplest tasks like brushing your teeth or getting the mail.

That is what life is like for 67-year-old Tom Revennaugh.

“Just getting through the day, getting teeth brushed, shaved, a bath it takes a couple of hours,” Tom said.

Tom has Stiff Person Syndrome, an autoimmune neurological disease that causes stiffness and muscle spasms.

Tom, who is also a diabetic, first had symptoms back in 1998.

“I had no idea what was going on, but just everything is going wrong, just like somebody is beating on me all the time.”

Just a decade ago Tom was an avid runner, a black belt breaking bricks and gardener, now his wife Judy says he requires constant 24-hour care.

Judy says, “He has gotten worse each year, beginning he had a cane, then two canes, then ended up with a walker and now he can get from this chair to his chairlift, it’s just a crippling disease.”

Tom says he misses the old days, vacationing, gardening and perfecting is already superior martial arts skills.

Although life hasn’t went the way he planned, he isn’t giving up, and hopes his story provokes others to do the same.

“If they don’t, they will lay down and die. They would give up, and God don’t want you to give up, wants you to be strong.”

It’s that strength that is getting the Revennaughs through the day-to-day.

Most of the people with Stiff Person Syndrome first had diabetes.

Right now Tom uses a Backafin pain pump to stop his spasms and ease his pain.

If you think you or someone you know might have Stiff Person, contact your doctor as soon as you can.