Scoliosis sufferer in race against time to raise €150k

horrific turn for the woman from Lucan, South Dublin.

She said: “One day I woke up and I just couldn’t move, couldn’t stand up.”

Elizabeth bravely studied through her pain and sat her Leaving Cert on an overwhelming amount of medication.

She received enough points to study her chosen course despite the agony she was in.

Unfortunately, she had to defer the offer for two years, but after several surgeries felt well enough to return to college.

However, despite continuous treatment and numerous operations, the pain became so bad Elizabeth had to leave her course after two years.

She has since been bedridden, only leaving her room for hospital appointments – and due to the severity of her condition, Elizabeth has also developed other illnesses which are putting her life in jeopardy.

In 2014 her consultant in the Mater referred her to specialists at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, Greater London – a world-class centre for her particular condition.

Her parents Brenda and John got in touch with the RNOH to arrange an appointment but were told because it is an Nhs-run hospital, they couldn’t accept a referral from a private consultant.

They were also informed they could not pay privately, with funding having to come from the HSE.

Brenda said: “We were referred over two years ago and we applied to the HSE for the Treatment Abroad Scheme which was refused. We appealed it and it was refused again.”

Despite extensive lobbying, including a direct approach to Health Minister Simon Harris, Elizabeth was denied the referral which could have saved and improved her quality of life.

The family recently travelled to Istanbul in Turkey to meet worldrenowned spinal surgeon Prof Dr Ahmet Alanay and his team who treat complex and unique cases.

Brenda said: “They were so shocked by her condition they wanted to operate on her immediately. Devastat- ingly, this couldn’t go ahead as we did not have the necessary funds.

“The surgeon and his team were willing to wait on the payment but the hospital would not agree. Elizabeth has become increasingly unwell. We are now in a race against time with less than one week to raise €150,000.”

Elizabeth added: “I can’t even sit up anymore without being in horrific pain.

“I’m so dependent on my family and it’s just extremely frustrating.

“I just want a normal life, to be able to care for myself, get a job, drive a car, see my friends – just be a normal 20-something.

“This surgery could give me that.”