Urgent: Help Jesse get life-saving surgery for Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome

$23,086 of $55,000 goal

Given by 366 generous donors in around 7 months

This fundraiser is about giving Jesse the chance to eat without pain, regain strength, and have a future not defined by constant suffering.

Stratford, Taranaki

My name is Jacqueline Hereora and I am raising funds for my 17 year old son Jesse. For the past three years Jesse's health has steadily declined. He lives with severe abdominal pain every time he eats, causing significant weight loss and ongoing deterioration. Jesse has been diagnosed with Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) three separate times by an ACC-appointed doctor, A specialist at Taranaki Base Hospital and Specialists at Auckland Hospital. These diagnoses were confirmed with CT scans and ultrasound imaging, and surgery was agreed to. Despite this his operation has been cancelled twice, and is now being asked to repeat further testing to reconfirm a diagnosis that has already been established, while his condition worsens. Jesse's medical history is complex and includes Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (classical and classical-like), a connective tissue disorder that complicates surgical care and healing, Chiari malformation, POTS, Scoliosis, Chronic fatigue, Spina bifida occulta, Scheuermann's disease and Gilbert syndrome. After years of waiting and cancelled care in New Zealand we are now looking overseas. Specialists in Australia have experience performing MALS surgery and can offer Jesse the care he urgently needs as continued delays place Jesse at real risk.

Jacqueline Hereora's involvement (page creator)

I am Jesse's mother and have been his primary caregiver and advocate throughout his ongoing and complex medical journey.

Use of funds

We are trying to raise $50,000 to cover: Private MALS surgery in Australia, Specialist consultations, Travel and accommodation and post-operative care.

Latest update

Help Jesse get life-saving surgery for Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome 9 July 2026

My name is Jacqueline Hereora and I am raising funds for my 17-year-old son, Jesse.

For the past three years, Jesse's health has steadily declined. He lives with severe abdominal pain every time he eats, causing significant weight loss and ongoing deterioration.

Jesse has been diagnosed with Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) three separate times by specialists, with CT scans and ultrasound imaging confirming the diagnosis. Despite surgery being agreed to, his operation was cancelled twice while his condition continued to worsen.

Jesse also lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Chiari malformation, POTS, scoliosis, chronic fatigue, spina bifida occulta, Scheuermann's disease, Gilbert syndrome, and other complex health conditions.

After years of delays in New Zealand, we sought help in Australia. We now have wonderful news—Jesse has been accepted for life-changing surgery.

We are now raising funds to cover the cost of surgery, hospital expenses, flights, and around three weeks of accommodation in Australia while Jesse recovers. This major open surgery will treat both his MALS and Nutcracker Syndrome and requires complex vascular reconstruction.

After everything Jesse has endured, this surgery offers hope for a future without constant pain. Any donation or share of Jesse's story will help give him the chance to reclaim his life.

Share this update

View and comment