I'm currently writing a story, in which the mother of the main character dies because of some kind of disease. As you can probably tell, I have no idea what disease that might be. That's why I'm asking for your help. I am looking for a disease, that she has known about for years, she was diagnosed when her daughter was 4, but only dies when her daughter is 20. She would have been able to lead a pretty normal life for the most of these 16 years. There might have been small episodes during which she was somewhat restricted due to this disease, but she only got really sick from this disease during the last one or two years of her life. The disease shouldn't be a hereditary condition, or at least there should be a very good chance, that her daughter didn't inherit the disease. However, she definitely doesn't have AIDS and I'd prefer to find something other than cancer. Does anyone have any ideas? I would be very grateful!
Tuberculosis, perhaps? Really depends on when and where this is set. It's not as dangerous in the modern, developed world.
Maybe Multiple Sclerosis? Here too. People live a long time with it, and its progress is unpredictable, so you could choose from a variety of different symptom patterns.
I think of the victims in Erin Brockovich cases. Read up on how water was the poison that was killing a community. "Erin Brockovich"
Thank you guys! The story is set between 1980 and 2000, it starts in Scotland, but the mother later lives in Australia, where she also dies. I read, that MS patients have very good chances of a long live today, so I'm not sure about that.