Your friends are fundraising. Don't miss out, opt in.

We did it!

Carys Hellewell raised £15,575 from 293 supporters

or

Start your own crowdfunding page

Closed 23/09/2019

0%
£15,575
raised of £35,000 target by 293 supporters

    Weʼve raised £15,575 to pay for life saving surgery in Germany to treat a rare illness where multiple arteries are being crushed

    Funded on Monday, 23rd September 2019

    Don't have time to donate right now?

    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.

    Updates

    4

    • Carys Hellewell5 years ago
      Carys Hellewell

      Carys Hellewell

      5 years ago

      Hi everyone thankyou so much for all your support!! 💖💖💖💖 Im sorry i have not been able to respond to all of your lovely messages but i will do once i am well! I am scheduled for surgery at 8am tomorrow. I have set up a blog where my family will be posting updates on my recovery: https://caryshellewelljourney.wordpress.com/

      Share this update to help us raise more

    • Carys Hellewell5 years ago
      Carys Hellewell

      Carys Hellewell

      5 years ago

      Thankyou so much to everyone who has donated and shared!! The response has been absolutely incredible! 💖💖💖 Thanks to a very generous donation from the Gloucestershire Freemasons I have now reached my target and will be having surgery next Thursday! 💖💖💖💖💖

      Share this update to help us raise more

    • Carys Hellewell5 years ago
      Carys Hellewell

      Carys Hellewell

      5 years ago

      Hi guys thanks for all your donations so far! If you could all keep sharing I'd really appreciate it! Ive been back in hospital this week due to some heart complications from my MALS compression and ive also had some complications with my feeding tube so I'm back to having a nasal jejunal tube for now. Trying to stay positive though an have some really fun events planned at the end of August to hopefully raise some funds, more details about these to come! X

      Update from the Page owner

      Share this update to help us raise more

    5 years ago

    Carys Hellewell started crowdfunding

    Leave a message of support

    Page last updated on: 9/26/2019 13.23

    Supporters

    293

    • Susan Hooper

      Susan Hooper

      Sep 26, 2019

      I send my love and hope for your future wellness xx

      £30.00

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Sep 23, 2019

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Sep 23, 2019

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Sep 23, 2019

      £50.00

    • Ann Adams

      Ann Adams

      Sep 23, 2019

      Hope you get the treatment you need

      £20.00

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Sep 22, 2019

      Wishing you greatly improved health and success with the surgery

      £10.00

    • Mrs D Hiles

      Mrs D Hiles

      Sep 22, 2019

      £20.00

    What is crowdfunding?

    Crowdfunding is a new type of fundraising where you can raise funds for your own personal cause, even if you're not a registered charity.

    The page owner is responsible for the distribution of funds raised.

    Great people make things happen

    Do you know anyone in need or maybe want to help a local community cause?

    Create you own page and donʼt let that cause go unfunded!

    About Crowdfunding
    About the fundraiser
    Carys Hellewell

    Carys Hellewell

    Report this Page