Can you help Cassidy May Coyle get the medical help she needs?

As many of you know Cassidy is the granddaughter of Lynn Blackmore and niece to myself, Jules Emmerson and Lucy Coyle. Our dear little Cassidy had an MRI and was diagnosed 5 weeks ago with a brain stem tumour after weeks of mis diagnosis. In England she would have had a biopsy a long time ago and any further treatment necessary. Cassidy is 12 years old and lives in a Muslim village in Thailand with Mark Coyle and her extended family. There is no National Health Service. She is on a waiting list for a biopsy to determine the type of tumour. The next available appointment at the government hospital was the 23rd December.

The doctors have not offered any interim treatment while waiting. They should have at least drained some of the fluid around the tumour or given her steroids.

They returned to the hospital yesterday to see if they could move the appointment forward as Cassidy is deteriorating rapidly. They have told them they can’t help and sent them away. They also said they cannot operate at the government hospital, so the 23rd of December is no longer an option.

Cassidy’s condition is worsening daily and until now she has continued to smile and joke. Today she is very upset and doesn’t want to hear what everyone is saying about her. Cassidy is a little angel, bless her.

Initially Cassidy was unable to grip with her left hand and shortly after, lost the use of her left arm. The local Thai doctor diagnosed malnutrition. A 2nd visit to the doctor to ask why her face was drooping resulted in a suggestion of massage. Cassidy now cannot lift her head fully, loses her balance and her eyeball is off center. The advice from our incredibly supportive friends in the medical profession in England, is that a biopsy is crucial. If no biopsy is available, then an interim MRI could determine the speed of growth. Neither of these things have happened.

Communication with everyone in Thailand is complicated with misinformation being relayed.

We now have no option but to try and get a bed in a private hospital so Cassie can start to get the urgent medical attention she so desperately needs - but private hospitals in Thailand are incredibly expensive. My family are determined to get Cassie all the help she needs but the costs will be astronomical. If you are able to make even the smallest of donations to help, it would be immensely appreciated.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

For those that have been asking about how they can help, please keep Cassidy in your thoughts and wish for a successful surgery and strength for her family.

This JustGiving page has been established for those interested in directly assisting with what will be a mountain of medical and related travel expenses to remove a tumour and the following treatment plan.