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Charlie urgently needs life saving surgery in Germany! Please help get her life back by helping to raise funds!

$33,391 of $180,000 goal
Given by 241 generous donors in 8 weeks

Charlie urgently needs a life-saving surgery not available in NZ to treat her Vascular Compressions Syndromes.

Wellington

Charlie urgently needs a life-saving surgery that is not available in NZ.

She cannot eat or drink and suffers from severe vomiting, debilitating pain, and other horrific symptoms everyday.

She has Gastroparesis, POTS, Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and multiple Vascular Compressions Syndromes, including AVCS, SMAS, MALS, May Thurner Syndrome and severe Nutcracker Syndrome. These are life-threatening illnesses and her health is declining rapidly.

Vascular surgeons in NZ agree that Charlie needs surgery ASAP. This complex and specialized surgery is currently only available in Germany. Without this surgery Charlie will die.

Charlie is in and out of hospital constantly, staying for long admissions and having countless procedures and surgeries. The NZ health system has let her down over and over again so she is having to travel to Hamilton every week for specialist treatment.

She is suffering from serious malnutrition, dehydration, deficiencies, and critically low electrolyte imbalances due to her inability to keep any food/water down.

She has recently had a Hickman line surgery (a tube that is placed into one of her major blood vessels and runs directly through her heart) as a means of receiving hydration and medications.

The surgeon in Germany is confident that his surgery will reverse her Vascular Compressions Syndromes and enable Charlie to eat and drink again.

Help us fundraise to get Charlie overseas and save her life. We would greatly appreciate any support.

Maria Williams' involvement (page creator)

I have been best friends with Charlie since primary school and we've been flatting with each other for 3 years.

Use of funds

All funds raised will help pay for surgery, scans, treatment, flights, and accommodation for both Charlie and her Mum.

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Latest update

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Charlie heads off to Germany  16 September 2024

Today Charlie begins her journey to Germany to have major surgery to try and reverse her vascular compressions.

It was very sad saying goodbye to family and pets this morning as she and her mum will be overseas for 2 months. 😔

They are extremely nervous as it’s a massive surgery which they are going into blindly not knowing how Charlie will respond/complications/recovery etc…

They will be transiting in Hong Kong this evening and then flying to Leipzig for some pre-op scans to prepare for her surgery in Düsseldorf in a weeks time.

We are so grateful for all the love and support from so many amazing and unbelievably kind people 🩷

We have extended the time frame on this Give a Little page and will still be collecting donations to support Charlie and her mum Rachel on their journey.

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Latest donations

Asher
Asher 16 hours ago
$5
Guest Donor
Guest Donor 17 hours ago
Private
Guest Donor
Guest Donor 18 hours ago
Private
Tony & Anne
Tony & Anne 5 days ago
All the very best Charlie
$100
Guest Donor
Guest Donor 6 days ago
$200

Who's involved?

Maria Williams's avatar
Created by Maria Williams
Charlie Rowan's avatar
Paying to a verified bank account of Charlie Rowan
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This campaign started on 19 Jul 2024 and ends on 19 Nov 2024.