Story
Hi, my name is Carys and I urgently need your help.
In 2010, I had an appendicectomy and this is when my health issues began. Quite quickly I began to lose weight and eating became a serious issue. I found even the smallest meals caused me pain and I began vomiting; food felt like a rock in my stomach, nausea became a constant symptom and going to the toilet became impossible without intervention.
I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis and latterly POTS - Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. My treatment involved having a feeding tube inserted into my stomach and although my weight loss stabilised other problems arose including difficulty breathing, chronic pain and fainting. It became clear that the treatment wasn't working and that my condition was deteriorating. After considerable research and trialling many different medications I have now been diagnosed with vascular compressions.
This is an incredibly rare condition with only 500 documented cases worldwide. Frustratingly the pioneering surgery that will cure this condition is only available in Germany.
This is where I need your help …………………
The surgery - plus consultations, scans & tests and traveling will cost £35,000.
I need to raise this money as soon as I can before my condition deteriorates even more. The surgery could mean I no longer require a feeding tube, be able to go to the toilet without intervention, and not live a life in pain.
Currently basic daily activities are a struggle. I start each day using a Peristeen irrigation system to enable me to go to the toilet, this process can take up to an hour and is exhausting. Some days I am unable to get out of bed due to excruciating pain and chronic sickness. I can eat only a very small amount of food and some days I cannot eat anything and must rely entirely on my feed. I struggle to get enough fluid due to sickness and must rely on flushes of water through my tube to avoid dehydration. I find the smallest of tasks are becoming increasingly difficult as my condition worsens, and I am constantly exhausted.
I have been studying a degree in Global Development and Sustainability at Bath Spa University however this has become impossible and I have made the decision to suspend my studies until I am well enough. My dream has always been to travel, and I would like to work in Humanitarian Development.
So I'm asking if anyone could please donate, even a pound, it would make such a difference for me and help make my dream a reality.
