Leanne get the medical treatment she so desperately needs

Hello to whoever is taking the time to read Leanne's story.

I'm Leah — Leanne is my wife. We've been together for 10 years, married for 8, and approximately 18 months ago, our lives changed forever.

Less than two years ago, Leanne was a typical 35-year-old woman — fit, healthy and very active. She was juggling everything you'd expect a working mum of four to juggle — school runs, housework and dinner times. Life had other ideas, though.

Leanne began experiencing pain in her muscles and joints. At first, she put it down to over-exercising, but as time went on, her symptoms spread to other parts of her body and worsened. Leanne started experiencing intense musculoskeletal, gastro and neurological problems, as well as constant fevers and many other life-changing symptoms. Most recently, one of Leanne's major organs have come into play; an obvious cause for concern. She has endured stays in hospital because of these symptoms.

Leanne now has days, sometimes entire weeks, where she can't get out of bed. She has gone from living a completely normal life to fading away in front of my eyes.

Despite her GPs conducting literally hundreds of blood tests and other diagnostic procedures, they're no closer to finding the root cause of her problem. So far, every NHS consultant who has received Leanne's file has said they're unable to help.

The complexity of her condition has forced me to take her care into the private sector. We strongly suspect Leanne has Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and, as a result of hitting dead-ends within the NHS, are now preparing to meet with the country's leading SLE specialist, Dr Arvind Kaul of the London Lupus & Rheumatology, next month.

Leanne's deteriorating health over the past 18 months have placed unimaginable strain on us as individuals, a couple, and as a family. I have withdrawn from one of my two jobs to take on more of a carer's role for Leanne while doing my best to ensure our children keep an as-normal-as-possible family environment.

Due to Leanne's upcoming care not being eligible on our private healthcare insurance policy, I have had no choice but to agree to self-fund. Unsurprisingly, the nature of the costs, including travel arrangements, are already well into the thousands of pounds.

I am optimistic that Dr. Kaul's extensive expertise and experience will help Leanne recover aspects of her life she has lost, but until then, any help, her and I can receive would be appreciated beyond what I could ever put into words.

Thank you for reading,