Urgent access to surgery. Help a mother return to life

Hi, my name is Elaine and I am mother to the wonderful ray of sunshine, Miss Rudi Kelly.

I am reaching out to share my deeply personal story and to ask for your help during an incredibly difficult time. As a single mother living with Crohn's disease, my life has been turned upside down, and I find myself in urgent need of support to secure the surgery that could change everything for me and my child.

I was diagnosed with crohns disease in 2020 and have had multiple procedures that have provided emergency intervention but I desperately need stoma surgery in order to heal properly. This surgery has been waved in my face since I was first diagnosed but has yet to become a reality. I suffer chronic infections and chronic wounds and am more times on antibiotics than not. My gut is destroyed waiting. The impact of crohns on my joints has made daily tasks insurmountable and I feel like a failure every day if I cannot complete the most basic tasks. The impact on my mental health is also a major challenge for me daily and is something the health service does not take in to account at all when dealing with this disease. I have been 2 years waiting for counselling through them that is never coming.

In 2021, I faced another significant challenge: a battle with breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of support services during that time made it even more difficult to cope. As a result of chemotherapy I have also developed Osteoarthritis in my hands, feet and knees.

Today..... I am exhausted from fighting with the health service in Ireland, where I have been waiting for surgery for far too long. The current wait time could extend another year, and my health continues to deteriorate with each passing day.

As a mother, it is heart breaking to send your child off to school and activities with other parents, and wait in anticipation to recieve a text and hopefully a photo to see how she is doing. I am completely cut off from society as I can no longer leave the house and I have developed very painful arthritis as a result of this disease and hypertension. I may not speak to an adult from one week to the next.

The impact and stress my poor daughter endures from seeing her mother in pain everyday is going to have a detrimental affect on her development. I need to change this now. All her memories are of Mammy being sick. She only has 1 parent in her life, she deserves a good one. She is, despite all her challenges, a wonderful girl and makes me proud every day.

The surgery I desperately need is not just a medical procedure; it is a chance to reclaim my life and be the mother my child deserves. I am desperate to return to work and become an active contributing memeber of my community again. Something we take for granted.

However, the financial burden of travel and accommodation for myself, my child, and a carer is overwhelming. The majority of the surgical costs will be covered through the EU directive. However, after the surgery, I will be unable to fly home for at least four weeks, which adds to the logistical and financial challenges we face.

I am humbly asking for your support through crowdfunding to help cover the costs associated with my our travel, accommodation and childcare/ carer assistance. We will have to travel during peak season to Alicante which increases costs but this is not within my control. Your contributions will not only help me regain my health but will also allow me to be more present in my child's life. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference and bring us one step closer to a brighter future.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your kindness and generosity can help change our lives for the better. If you are unable to contribute financially, sharing this campaign with your network would mean the world to us.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Elaine & Rudi xx