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Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
I’m fundraising for my dear friend Cisca, someone who has always shown up for others with kindness, empathy, and grace. Today, she is quietly fighting a battle most people will never see.
In October 2024, Cisca underwent what was meant to be routine keyhole hip surgery. Instead of recovery, she was left with severe, life-altering pain centered around her coccyx and pelvis. Since then, she has been unable to sit, recline, lie on her back or sides, or rest normally. Daily life is governed by pain, careful positioning, and medication. Sleep is fragmented, and much of her independence has been taken away.
As her condition failed to improve, and in some cases worsened, Cisca lost her job due to pain-related disability, and with it, her medical insurance. Soon after, her husband, Stan, was also made redundant. Since then, he has been by her side every single day, supporting her through the challenges day and night. Simple tasks that most of us take for granted are now enormous struggles. Every day for the past 15 months has been a battle against pain, fatigue, and uncertainty.
Despite her GP’s best efforts, there is currently no funded NHS pathway able to properly manage or investigate Cisca’s complex pain condition. She has been placed into “self-management only” care, which multiple private specialists have since confirmed is not safe or appropriate for her situation. As a result, Cisca and her husband have been forced to self-fund specialist consultations, scans, medications, physiotherapy, and procedures, simply to keep searching for answers and to prevent further deterioration.
Recently, a new specialist identified a clear physical abnormality that had been missed on earlier scans. This has brought renewed hope that a targeted intervention could finally make a meaningful difference. Continuing down this path (and maybe many more if the current one will not bring the much needed pain relief) requires important financial resources.
Cisca and her husband are not asking for luxury or comfort, only for the chance to access appropriate medical care and to preserve the possibility of recovery and independence. Cisca wants her life back, and I want Cisca to shine bright again as she used to do.
Funds raised will help cover:
- specialist consultations and second opinions
- diagnostic imaging and investigations
- pain management and rehabilitation
- procedures and potential surgery
- everything needed to allow Cisca to cope better at home
Support in any form:
- If you’re not in a position to donate, please know that your support still matters deeply. A prayer, a kind thought, or simply sharing this page can make a real difference.
- If you are, or know, a specialist with experience in pelvic or coccyx pain, anywhere in the world, and would be willing to share guidance or make a connection, we would be deeply grateful. Even small leads or suggestions could help.
- If you’d like to leave Cisca a few words of encouragement or kindness in the comments, she would be very grateful. She reads them, and they mean more than we can say.
Transparency & updates:
We are committed to being open and transparent. This page will be regularly updated with:
- Cisca’s medical progress (as she is comfortable sharing)
- upcoming investigations or procedures
- how the funds are being used
In the fortunate event that not all funds are needed for Cisca’s care, any unused amount will be donated to another individual or organisation supporting people facing complex pain or medical hardship. This will be shared openly and transparently, and we may invite suggestions from supporters at that time.
Thank you for taking the time to read Cisca’s story — and for choosing kindness, in whatever form that takes. ❤️
Organizer and beneficiary
Francisca Vennard
Beneficiary