Big Brother’s Reggie Bird on how long she has before Usher Syndrome leaves her deaf and blind

After sharing her heartbreaking Usher Syndrome diagnosis, Big Brother winner Reggie Bird has opened up about how long she has before she becomes “deaf and blind”.

The 48-year-old revealed that while her hearing is “okay” at the moment, she “doesn’t know” how long it will last.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Reggie Bird shares shock health update.

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Bird had previously been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision problems, and had only just come to terms with the situation.

Hoping for good news by completing genetic testing, the reality star received the opposite.

She has now learned that she also has stage two Usher syndrome – a rare genetic condition that will leave her both blind and deaf.

“Do you have a timeframe for when it’s going to start?” asked interviewer Rod Morris Bird.

“I don’t know how long it will be before I lose my hearing,” she shared.

“I had to go to Hearing Australia and get tested there.

“And right now — touch wood — they said it’s okay.

“But it won’t be good.

“So I don’t know how long it will take.”

Usher syndrome is caused by a change in one or more genes – with around 15 different genes causing the condition, according to Eye Research Australia.

The center says someone with Usher syndrome will inherit a change in multiple genes to develop the condition – one from each parent.

The Big Brother VIP winner said the news was “terrible” and “not what I wanted to hear”.

Usher Syndrome was “the worst thing I could have had” and it was “an absolute kick in the pit of the stomach”.

“Trust this to happen to me,” she said.

“The Worst Thing I Could Have”

The mother-of-two says Usher syndrome is related to her retinitis pigmentosa.

“That threw a spanner in the works for me,” Bird said.

“I want to see, hear and do as much as possible before I lose my sight completely.”

The TV star shared that she wants to travel around Australia with her children “as much as possible” during the unknown time left with her hearing and sight.

She also took to Instagram to ask followers for suggestions on experiences she can have before both of her vital senses fail her.

“I’m making a bucket list and I’d love for everyone to contribute,” she said.

“So I would appreciate if you could give me some suggestions on what I should do before I lose my sight.

“I’m turning it into something positive, I don’t want it to be negative, I want it to be positive — making the most of every damn day I can see and hear left,” she said.

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