Mum faces race against time for life-saving op
MORE than 2,000 people have donated to help fund life-saving surgery for a mum whose skull is crushing her brain - but she still faces a race against time.
Samantha Smith, 30, from Littleborough, has raised a staggering £40,000 in a month towards a complex operation which is available in the USA.
But she needs to find an additional of £110,000 within the next three months despite around 2,300 people donating via her crowdfunding website.
Samantha, a single mumof-two, had her life ‘turned upside down’ when she was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which weakens the body’s connective tissues.
The latest bid to raise funds is an evening of live entertainment and disco at Littleborough Cricket Club on May 21 and Samantha has expressed her gratitude to everyone who is helping her.
She said: “Thank you to every single one of you who has shared the cause, donated, arranged fundraisers, attended fundraisers and sent caring messages.
“We are eternally grateful and overwhelmed by all the kindness. I am still getting worse, the symptoms can vary from one moment to the next, it depends where the pressure is. The surgery would be able to reverse the vast majority of that.
“This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, I have no idea how I would do it without the support we have received.”
EDS is a genetic condition that can cause pain, dislocations and cardiac abnormalities.
In the case of Samantha, who worked as a psychotherapist, it is crushing her brain and spine as it has made the ligaments in her neck too weak to support her head.
She underwent years of pain and tests before being diagnosed last year, by which point she had started to lose consciousness and vomit blood. New information suggests the treatment may be available in Barcelona, which would decrease the cost and be more convenient.
Samantha has travelled there to have tests to see if it will work for her.
The live entertainment event has acts including Frankie Valli tribute Peter Sarsfield, a Stars in Their Eyes winner, and Dan Dearden, who has been on the X-Factor.
It is from 2pm to 10pm and tickets are £5 for adults and £2.50 for children, available from the cricket club on Denhurst Road, the Village Bakery, Electrical Beach Sunbed Shop and on the door.
There will also be a raffle, bouncy castle and auction.
Anyone who can donate to the fund or prizes for the raffle and auction can email savingsamlive@outlook. com.