https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sarahluxfordsavmfundraisingx1

My aim was to raise at least £10000. I have already raised £7500 on the page above, but unfortunately the page expired, so I have set this one up to continue working towards my goal of £10000.

29th August 2009 my life changed dramatically when I suffered the first of 3 brain Haemorrhages whilst on holiday in Portugal where a very large AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) was discovered in my brain.

After a week in hospital in Portugal, I was flown back to the UK by Air Ambulance, where I had further scans, an angiogram and discussions with consultants during which it was explained that due to the size and location of the AVM, there was a 40-50% maximum chance of the AVM being obliterated. It was further complicated that, due to my age at the time (37) the risk of leaving it untreated far outweighed the risk of treating it, as the chance of another bleed during my lifetime was very high which may or may not be fatal. A craniotomy at this point was not a possibility, the risk of serious complications or a massive bleed during surgery too great.

It was recommended that I have staged embolisations followed by Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery. 4 embolisations were carried out at the Atkinson Morley in Tooting followed by 2 lots of Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery at The Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield and after 2 further bleeds in March 2012 and March 2013 another lot of Gamma Knife was carried out.

Gamma Knife works over several years and after being regularly monitored it was suggested that I have a 5th embolisation to treat the remaining AVM which I did in April 2019, however a small part had to be left as it could not be safely blocked. My scans were sent back to Sheffield to see if another lot of Gamma could be carried out instead, however unfortunately due to swelling in my brain from all the treatment it was deemed not possible without causing further problems.

After suffering further issues/numbness in my left side an MRI scan showed a very large cyst in my brain, likely caused by the volume of treatment carried out, so another operation took place at Atkinson Morley to insert a Rickham Reservoir to drain the cyst in October 2019.

As it turned out the Cyst was actually a very friendly and helpful cyst (!) and had created a space between the AVM and healthy part of my brain, meaning that a Craniotomy was finally possible to remove the remaining AVM and the Rickham Reservoir. This took place in January 2020 and after another angiogram a few days later I was finally given the news I never thought I would get, that I was cured.

Some 20 months later I am approaching my 50th Birthday and have decided to raise money for Atkinson Morley where most of my surgeries were carried out by amazing surgeons and also some for the Royal Hallamshire who are also brilliant, as a way of thanking them both for curing me. I owe them so very much and will never be able to thank them enough and truly show how unbelievably grateful I am to them for everything they have done for me.

Please could I therefore ask if anyone who would usually give me a birthday present could donate instead, and of course birthday aside any donations would be very welcome, however small, and over the coming months/year Steve and I plan to think of other ways to raise money too.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and thank you to everyone who has been there for me and helped me through this journey.

Sarah xx