Mother-of-three Chrissy’s battle against AS (Ankylosing Spondylitis) and the surgery she requires.

Chrissy is a working mother of three (two boisterous boys aged 9 and 6 and an eight-month-old girl). Chrissy suffers from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a type of arthritis for which there is no cure. It causes long-term inflammation of the joints of the spine, and over time has led to her spine and pelvis fusing. Movement is limited, her spine hunched, and she lives in constant agony and fatigue. Orthopaedic surgeons have recommended urgent but risky surgery to help Chrissy regain her mobility, independence and quality of life. Without surgery, Chrissy’s AS will only get worse, and she could lose the ability to walk altogether, while the likelihood of dying from circulatory or other severe disease increases dramatically.

The Orthopaedic surgeon is planning two surgeries, which if successful will allow Chrissy to regain considerable movement and an improved curvature of the spine. But they come with significant risks, such as paralysis, and between them require 24 weeks of recovery.

While Chrissy has the support of a dedicated fiancée Matt, their family and friends, during her recovery, the family will be down to roughly one-quarter of their normal income (Matt will receive some financial assistance to care for Chrissy for 12 of those 24 weeks). Matt currently does most of the cleaning, cooking and day-to-day chores to keep the family afloat, as well as working full-time.

It will be a huge struggle financially for them, on top of the pressures of family life and helping Chrissy rehabilitate. Even once Chrissy has recovered it will be some time before she is able to return to the job she loves at Spark (a career spanning 13 years).

The family are looking for help to cover the 12 weeks of reduced income. Any help you can offer would be gladly received by Chrissy, Matt and their three children.

You can also follow along Chrissy's 'adventure' on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChrissysASadventure