Hello and thank you to whoever followed the link to get here.

I am raising money for my twin sister Lydia, who has been chronically ill for over two and a half years and is now living every day in constant pain, isolation, exhaustion and despair.

I’m Ellie and writing this is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Lydia is my darling twin sister, the person I entered this world with and watching her health deteriorate over the past few years has been utterly devastating. I have attached some photos from when we were younger and before she got sick. A reminder of the life and energy she had before.

At just 31 years old, Lydia is now a shadow of who she once was. She has lost a terrifying amount of weight and doctors have expressed that her life is now at risk. She lives with crippling daily pain, severe stomach issues, extreme fatigue and daily insomnia that's meant she's hardly slept in two years.

Every day she suffers from a debilitating list of symptoms - fainting episodes, relentless nausea, dangerously low blood pressure, chronic migraines, dental issues, jaundice and extreme physical fatigue. She also hasn't had her menstrual cycle for the last two years. A STARK sign of how unwell her body has become.

She is unwell every single day, without relief.

The physical symptoms have taken an extreme toll on her mental health. And more and more she is losing the will to live. She feels trapped, unwell and completely alone. Saying that out loud is heartbreaking, but this is the reality of what illness has taken from her. Her independence, social life, love for life - all gone.

How this started

Around three years ago, Lydia began experiencing allergies, flu-like symptoms and extreme fatigue. Although unwell, she continued to live her life around these symptoms.

After contracting Covid, her health declined rapidly. She developed debilitating stomach issues that made eating a daily battle, severe reactions to food, light-headedness and worsening fatigue. Over a short period of time, Lydia lost an alarming amount of weight, leaving her severely underweight with a dangerously low BMI.

After two years of repeated GP visits, tests and hospital appointments, no clear answers or effective treatments have been found. But her symptoms continue to worsen, and the toll on her body and mental health is immense.

Life now

Lydia is now predominantly housebound. She is unable to socialise, work and can barely walk to the end of the road let alone access community. Her world has become painfully small.

The combination of constant physical suffering and prolonged isolation has pushed her into a place of deep despair, making it incredibly difficult for her to imagine a future where things improve.

Why we need help

Lydia is a talented artist, but her illness has made it impossible for her to work or earn a stable income. Through sheer determination she has managed to sell some work, but this is nowhere near enough to cover the urgent specialist medical care and professional support she desperately needs.

The aim of this go fund me is to help Lydia access specialist medical care, therapy and professional support that I hope will finally provide answers and a path toward recovery — where standard medical routes have failed.

How the funds will be used:

Donations will help cover.

• Specialist doctors and diagnostic tests to identify underlying causes and access potential life-changing treatment at a faster rate

• Therapeutic support to help her cope with the severe mental health impact of chronic illness and isolation

• Specialist clinics and multidisciplinary care, including long-Covid investigations and functional testing not readily available through the NHS

• Improving her living situation and social connection, helping her regain some independence, stability and quality of life

• An emotional support animal, to provide companionship, routine, comfort and unconditional love during extremely difficult days

Asking for help in this way is not easy. And please know this decision has been made after years of heartbreak, fear and watching someone I love suffer deeply. I love my sister and don't want to lose her.

Any contribution, no matter how small, would mean the world. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page would help more than you know. More than anything, I want Lydia to know that she is supported, believed in, and not alone.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

Lydia, you are always in my heart xxxxx