Alice needs your help!!! Help Alice get her life back by raising funds for a lifesaving surgery in Germany

$126,683 of $150,000 goal

Given by 710 generous donors in around 8 months

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Alice needs lifesaving surgery in Germany for her rare vascular compressions and needs your help to get there

Auckland

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Since August 2021 my health has been deteriorating. I have spent months in and out of hospital with no answers. Recently I was diagnosed with a number of rare and life threatening vascular compressions and other comorbidities like POTS that severely affect my health. Because of the compressions I live each day in extreme debilitating pain and am unable to eat or drink. I've been relying on a NJ feeding tube to survive for the last 2 years. I have lost 26kgs because of this illness and am struggling to put on weight. Before all of this happened I was a passionate competitive swimmer and enjoyed life and school. I was meant to be studying at Otago University this year, however I had to pull out under the advice of my doctors. Now I have no quality of life and live each day as a struggle.

I require surgery to fix these compressions however treatment is unavailable in NZ at this time. Due to the severity of the compressions and urgency for treatment I have been advised by doctors over here to look overseas to Germany for surgery. We are in the process of reaching out to Clinic Bel Etage in Düsseldorf and are also exploring other options.

Please help me fundraise for this as it is life changing surgery that will help me get my life back.

Use of funds

All funds raised will help pay for surgery, scans, flights, accommodation, physio, medication and any other health related costs

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3 months! 7 June 2024

It’s officially been 3 months since my surgery!

Looking back at the last 3 months and beyond there are so many improvements, big or small. I’m managing to go on walks, shopping, seeing friends, I’ve started driving again, going out for coffees. These are all things that before surgery were basically impossible and I haven’t been able to enjoy for almost 3 years so its been really nice being able to do these things and gain some independence and normality back.

I’m still dealing with a bit of pain and fatigue but overall in terms of AVCs I think I can say that so far the surgery was a success. I don’t have any flank pain, no stomach pain, I can eat, walk, stand and my body is just functioning better in general. In no means am I 100% better but I’m only 3 months into what they say is a year long recovery filled with ups and downs so its still early days. It does however mark a milestone where the tissue has healed and I can start using my body more and hopefully build some strength to aid my recovery. I won’t lie this recovery has been a mental challenge but I’m getting there and I’m hopeful things will continue to improve so I can begin to think about work, uni and so much more!

I wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone that’s donated, fundraised and supported me on this journey. None of this would have been possible otherwise, so me and my family are so beyond grateful ❤️❤️

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