Sue needs an operation

Hi there. My name is Billie and I am fund raising for my friend Sue who needs a back operation now.

Sue has had an auto immune disease Sjogren's Syndrome for many years but in the last 3 years she has also developed a degenerative muscle disease called Inflammatory Myopathy.

Sue also has several spinal stenosis of L4/L5/S1 vertebra and spondylolisthesis where one vertebra slips over another. These conditions affect her ability to walk causing numbness in her feet, pain and weakness in her lower back and loss of strength in her legs.

In March this year Sue started immune suppressant treatment for the Inflammatory Myopathy. This is an ongoing treatment with no cure. The side effects are horrid including weight gain, depression and brain confusion.

Sue is in constant pain.

She can not drive, work or sit for any length of time. She has a high risk of falling, can only walk 10m before needing to rest and if she falls can not get up from the floor. She can't get up from regular chairs and can't walk up stairs.

She has lost all independence, including her own business.

Sue relies on Nick her husband of 39 years for everything.

Sue needs spinal surgery but this "may only reduce associated pain and address the direct effect on gait and range of motion-but it will not have an effect on the neurological characteristics of her myopathy. In terms of function, this permanent condition causes progressive weakness and severe fatigue which impairs her ability to walk and stand." Quote from her Neurologist and GP.

Please give to this fund raiser so Sue can have an operation on her spine.