Elizabeth appeals to community for support
A YOUNG woman whose quality of life has been decimated as a result of a life changing spinal condition, which has also led to neurological issues, is appealing to the community to help to fund the lifesaving operations that she’s currently undergoing in Turkey, reports Aideen O’Flaherty.
Elizabeth McNicholas, 28, was diagnosed with severe scoliosis shortly before she sat her Leaving Cert in Coláiste Cois Life in 2008, and in recent years has become bedbound as a result of the condition.
The Lucan woman underwent four unsuccessful spinal fusions in Ireland, and developed a brain injury afterwards which has led to narcolepsy and an adrenal insufficiency, a life-threatening condition which is caused by the inability to produce cortisol, and the treatment for Elizabeth’s condition can only be carried out abroad.
Elizabeth and her family have exhausted all avenues in Ireland, after failing to secure funding through the HSE to get the necessary treatment abroad, as Elizabeth’s consultant – who Elizabeth’s mother has previously described as being the only one who can treat her condition – works in the private sector, and the HSE won’t accept referrals from doctors in the private sector.
This has led the young woman, who is fully dependent on a wheelchair on the rare occasions when she is able to leave her bed, to travel to Turkey to be treated by Dr Ahmet Alanay, a leading spinal surgeon, as her condition is worsening.
Elizabeth’s brother Sean told The Echo: “Elizabeth’s condition has been deteriorating at a constant rate, and in October, Elizabeth was invited to attend the EuroSpine Conference which was held in Dublin.
“While there she met with the world-renowned spinal surgeon Dr Ahmed Alannay who works at the Comprehensive Spinal Centre at Acibadem Maslak Hospital in Istanbul.
“Elizabeth was offered the opportunity to travel to Istanbul for a full assessment, the result of which Dr Alannay concluded that Elizabeth’s condition now required lifesaving surgery, as opposed to life-changing surgery. The surgical procedures required are not available in Ireland.
“Elizabeth’s condition has been deteriorating to such a point that due to breathing issues, caused by spinal pressure on the lungs, she is required to be on an oxygen machine most of the time.
“Elizabeth travelled to Istanbul on Tuesday, and the first procedure took place on Wednesday morning, which will be followed by a second procedure next Monday.”
The family are now in a race against time to reach the €150,000 goal they’ve set to be able to cover the cost of Elizabeth’s extensive surgeries.
Sean added: “With further procedures expected to follow over the next number of weeks, we cannot even contemplate not reaching our target.”
You can donate to Elizabeth’s Go Fund Me page online at www.gofundme.com/u4wpzkjz, and you can keep up-to-date with her progress on Facebook by following Team Elizabeth McNicholas.
