Ataxia telangiectasia is a rare genetic disease that causes multiple symptoms related to poor co-ordination, abnormal blood vessels and a compromised immune system.
There is no treatment for ataxia telangiectasia and management focuses on monitoring and treating the specific risks posed by the condition, such as lung infections.
In The C Word, Emily Lawson has inherited more than two copies of the faulty gene from her parents, giving her a similar but unique condition.