My Fight For Life

Hello! My name is Becca and I suffer from Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome, I am 24 years old and have been suffering since I was 19.

I never thought my life could change so dramatically until I was hit with Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS) — a rare and devastating condition that has completely destroyed my physical and mental health. SMAS is an incredibly rare gastrointestinal disorder that affects only 0.1% to 0.3% of the population, and the harsh reality is that it carries a staggering 33% mortality rate if left untreated.

Every day, I struggle just to do the most basic things most people take for granted: eating, drinking, moving around my own home. My body is wasting away. The constant pain, relentless nausea, and fear of what tomorrow will bring have left me feeling trapped — as though my life is slipping further and further out of my hands.

Right now, I survive with a PEG-J feeding tube, a special tube that passes directly through my skin into my stomach and then into my small intestine. SMAS blocks my stomach and part of my gut, so this tube is my lifeline — it bypasses the compressed section and allows me to receive liquid nutrition directly into my small intestine. Without it, I simply wouldn’t be able to nourish myself properly, and my condition would worsen even faster.

SMAS is not something you simply “get better” from. It’s a life-threatening condition where my small intestine is compressed by a vital artery, robbing me of the ability to nourish myself properly. Every meal feels like a battle, and I live in constant fear that my body cannot take much more.

Here in the UK, the awareness and treatment options for SMAS are extremely limited. Surgery is available but not one that would actually cure my syndrome, just make my life a bit more easier and it’s not specialised to specifically treat SMAS. My only real chance lies in specialised, life-saving surgery offered in the United States — by experts who truly understand this complex and often overlooked illness. Money that I have been saving for a while that I don’t think I will ever have enough as it will cost around £25,000- £30,000.   However I am aware of the amount required and it is a lot of course it is, but if you are able any donations will really help in going towards the surgery in USA, I don’t like to beg for money, hence why I’m just letting to go fund me change as it goes. On top of that, there are also mobility and home-care items that would make my day-to-day life more manageable and less painful, allowing me to conserve my strength as I fight to stay as well as I can.

That’s why I’m reaching out.

Your support could help me access the vital surgery overseas that could save my life — and make a real difference in my day-to-day quality of life while I wait.

Every donation, kind message, and share truly matters. Whether big or small, your generosity will help me fight for a future where my life isn’t ruled by pain and fear. Please help me spread awareness of SMAS and give me a chance to reclaim my health, my independence, and my hope.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with me. ❤️