Debbie Rocke, from Broadstairs, appeals for help to fund Ehlers-Danlos syndrome treatment
00:01, 10 May 2017
A mother has pleaded for help to fund a trip to a Spanish hospital for life-changing treatment.
Debbie Rocke has been receiving treatment for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) but needs more cash to have a second procedure.
The 35-year-old mum-of-three from Westover Gardens, Broadstairs, had to travel to Barcelona’s Teknon hospital in March as the surgery she needed is not available on the NHS.
She funded the first visit with a loan from her parents.
And she will soon have to return to have another procedure on her lower spine, which should improve the condition.
Once there, doctors will work to realign the spine and fix it into place.
To fund the second trip she needs £20,000.
EDS has several impacts on her body and causes her severe pain on a daily basis.
She said: "We had to raise £76,000 all together, including the £20,000 for the last procedure.
"My parents loaned us £36,000 to get the first operation done.
"Now we need to raise a little bit more to get the second operation done."
"I just want to be a mother to my children" - Debbie Rocke
Debbie has again released a link to her crowdfunding page hoping that people will hear her story.
She said: "I was very down after the operation because I had slight mobility when I first woke up and was feeling ok but then I lost that mobility.
"I used to be somebody that used to think ‘not another one of those stories’ but having been on the other side now I can see the struggle people have.
"I just want to be a mother to my children."
Click here for more information on how to donate.
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