Raising for Natalies Life changing brain surgery!

FundRaising for Natalies Brain surgeries, plus hair loss and dental treatment which are problems due to her medication and needs treatment to help as they also have a big impact on her life and also the cost of living expenses during surgery to stop her getting into financial difficulties.

we are hoping to raise awareness of an illness which is currently holding my daughter in law, Natalie, back from living a normal life alongside her husband and two children. 

Due to scar tissue on the frontal lobe of the brain Natalie suffers from focal and partial seizures and absence seizures due that sadly have not been able to control with medication and has a massive impact on her life.

She try’s to hard to stay focused on various things whilst waiting on a massive 2 year waiting list due to a hold up because of covid 19.

The seizures is a huge burden on her quality of life and mental health , energy levels and now she is experiencing hair loss ans dental issues which needs treating which is effecting her confidence even more.

we have not found out she needs a surgical SEEG surgery before the main surgery ( electrodes on the brain) so With some of this go fund me money we paid for a private consultation and was told even the first SEEG surgery will at least cost £50.000 and a 2 week stay at Hospital, that was not possible so now she is awaiting 2 years for the first SEEG surgery. So we now thought if we can’t pay for the surgery we can help the process for her and make it more comfortable and less stressful by raising money for hospital expenses , travel . Loss of earnings when her husband as to take time of work during and after the operation to help pay the bills, rent and stop them and their family getting into financial difficulties at this hard time . Also funds will help pay for hair loss treatment now and after the surgery . Also dental treatment has been recommended but impossible to afford at the moment. This is all life changing and would change Natalie life forever ! Any amount will help Natalie, Mike snd there two beautiful girls. Thank you so much in advance .

Natalie's story

Natalie has a scar on her brain causing her epilepsy.

In an ideal world the National Health would resolve this, and Natalie’s brain surgery would have taken place. Sadly, this is not the case and ongoing delays during this unknown time for COVID-19 within hospitals has resulted in procedures being cancelled with no further dates available.

Natalie has seizures on a regular basis, often daily and her anti-epileptic medication, taken for 25 years, from the age of 14 has been unable to offer a permanent result and her next step is for brain surgery. Her MRI scan shows the frontal lobe of the brain to be the point where the epileptic activity originates from and Doctors believe the scar must have been caused by a head injury and once removed could alleviate the medical condition allowing Natalie to be seizure free and able to live her life.

We have found out about 6 months ago she now needs a surgical SEEG test on her brain to make sure all is safe to take that area of the brain out so now it’s potentially two surgery’s needed. Sadly it’s a two year waiting list for even the 2 week SEEG surgical test to be done as it’s a long Hosital stay and Lack of beds .

Over the past few years, I have witnessed some of Natalie’s seizures, one time she was holding a hot baking tray straight from the oven and was unable to feel her hand burning, another time she had a seizure by the roadside and was carried home by a stranger after she banged her face which resulted in stitches. Each seizure leaves her feeling physically and mentally drained and majorly affects her way of life, she is also unable to drive or travel alone which consequently rules out working and transporting her children around.

Natalie’s husband, Mike, is the main carer for both her and their children whilst working hard to hold down his job.

Eight strong tablets a day makes it extremely difficult for Natalie to carry out the day-to-day tasks which we all take for granted, without draining her of energy and consequently she misses many opportunities for being a hands-on mother to her girls.

Our goal

My wish is to raise both an awareness and funding to support Natalie and by helping her to obtain pre-operation tests I am hopeful this will escalate her brain surgery for which she was a priority patient. Natalie is currently getting more anxious due to her constant battle with the hospital and receiving no positive replies is inflicting distress on the whole family.

Desperate to be better Natalie would love to look towards her future and by raising the funding and an awareness I want to help to give her a quality of life. My initial hope is to be able to help Natalie in the ways already stated or at least parts of it .

Natalie has an endless inner strength and is a real inspiration to many people, showing her kind, caring, nature and it is devastating to watch her often lose hope of not knowing whether she will ever feel better again and back to her passion of singing , a pageant and helping at charity events.

This is just the beginning for Natalie, and once the process begins, she would like to share her journey on social media platforms and raise awareness for everyone who suffers from the same invisible illness.

Hopefully if this page can shed some light at the end of the tunnel and help to raise funds it will allow Natalie and her family to have the life and future, they all deserve.

Natalie said,

"When the donations mount up and the ball starts rolling with the appointments I will be be doing a video vlog on a youtube channel i'll make, and also facebook lives videos to give back to the world my story, inspiration, knowledge, advise and hope for people who suffer with the same or other hidden conditions like mine. just because you look well it does not mean you are! It's time hidden conditions are spoke about more. I fight through every day to achieve different things and goals and this is my next ambition - I will prove to people on my journey throughout treatment, tests and surgery to never give up and if you have a dream, don't wait and make it reality!"

We just need your generous donations to make this possible so please please support her if you can and share with your friends, social media or networking platforms and make this possible.

Natalie has recently written a poem about her hopes and struggles and as called it her

‘Invisible War’

Watch over me when I am awake or asleep.

When brain surgery comes a new start, I will seek.

Wishing the day comes when my scars took away,

 Praying I will have more energy one day.

 The unpredictable nature of the curse in my head,

When the seizures come calling so does my bed.

Behind this smile I hide the pain.

Mommy’s stares, and the meds drain my body and brain.

I always keep smiling and make sure I look good,

 But that is why my condition, epilepsy gets miss understood.

Waiting each day for a letter to say, here are your tests and brain surgery

There is no longer delay.... as no date, I hate... not knowing my fate.

Every day I wait is another day gone,

 And a day further away from being an energetic wife and mum.

My girls and husband deserve for me to shine,

But they still must see this battle of mine.

But I carry on for my girls and fight through the day.

In hope that my fits and meds will drift away and away.

Morning comes my body’s week like I have not rested.

But still times going by and I am not being tested.

If I had a magic wand, I wish my surgery were tomorrow,

 So, I can get better, succeed, and leave behind sorrow.

My dream is to be fit free, med free and beat this invisible war.

Not just for me. but for my family- husband, girls, and Gill- my mother-in-law.

 As for too many years it been holding me back,

 But love is one thing we do not lack.

But know this - when I am better- this I believe,

I will be stronger than ever and my goals I will achieve!!!

By Natalie Rigby

We are counting your generous donations to make this possible so please please support her if you can and share with your friends, social media or networking platforms and make this possible.

We sincerely appreciate every single penny which is donated and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you so much for taking the time to read Natalie’s story.

Gill and the team xx

Natalie will keep you updated on this page with the progress. 

Thank you for any support!

from Gill (mother in law of Natalie) 

Her story and campaign has been published by the Birmingham mail in hope of getting donations 

link below

This is a Birmingham mail artical about the story and fundraiser

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/familys-appeal-after-mum-twos-19488367?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar