Hi I have started this fundraiser to raise money to pay for a private full body mri scan and bulk chiropractor sessions. I am a single mother of three living with chronic daily pain. In January 2021 pregnant I was admitted to hospital with severe abdominal pain, dehydration, Dizzyness, vomitting, weak unable to keep down any food or water. I Was given fluids, pain relief, anti sickness and vitamins intravenously. Sent home after treatment I was still having the same symptoms, at home weak with my then 7 year old son I couldn’t do anything apart from lay on the sofa with a vomiting/spit bowl. At the next hospital admissions via a&e I was given an emergency scan at only 9 weeks pregnant as my symptoms were so bad. To my suprise I was told that it was a multiple pregnancy, let me tell you if I was not laying flat on my back for the scan I would have collapsed to the floor!!! Shockingly I would be having twins which were due in September 2021. The hospital diagnosed me with Hyperemesis gravidarum, Hyperemesis gravidarum is a pregnancy complication that is characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and possibly dehydration. Feeling faint may also occur. It is considered a more severe form of morning sickness. My pregnancy was treated as high-risk monitoring my pregnancy closely to ensure there were no complications. I suffered with this for my entire pregnancy lost over 3stones in weight constantly in the hospital daily for fluids, vitamins, anti sickness and pain relief. My body wasn’t reacting well to the antickness meaning even after being in the hospital all day receiving treatment I would still leave the hospital and be vomiting on the street on the way home. Fast forward to July 2021 symptoms were ongoing and I was told that I should have a c section at 36 weeks which bring my due date to august. Although I was really suffering and sick to the point that i wished I could have an abortion (not possible obviously too far gone) I was scared to have a c-section and made it clear to the midwifery team I would prefer to try a natural birth. The team decided against this and booked a C-section and informed me three days before the procedure.

I was hesitant to go for the C-section but by this time I was exhausted, drained mentally physically and emotionally fed up of being sick, fed up of the iv needles, the trips to the hospital it was depressing. I couldn’t enjoy my pregnancy of such a blessing due to the fact I suffered the entirety of carrying my twins. Not wanting to put my children at risk I was given a C-section 05/08/2021, a boy and girl weighting 2kg around 4lbs. The C-section went okay abit of extra pulling to get my daughter out and she had a really low temperature but other than that there were no problems. Well at least that’s what I thought. After the c-section we were kept in the hospital for a week due to twins not feeding well, me still not being able to keep down food and my son being in intensive care for a few days following heel prick test. This was the hardest time of my life I was depleted,nothing left in me. I was in pain from C-section, depression kicked in harder because my son was away in icu by himself with strangers, my daughter was unsettled without her twin brother. This is at a time when restrictions on visiting was prominent because of Covid so I was alone struggling not sleeping not eating stressed thinking how am I going to look after these babies. The hospital room I was in had no windows to even see outside.

Fast forward I was released thank god. I struggled at home alone with my twins and 8 year old son. Darkest time of my life, I was having night sweats, not sleeping, still in pain unable to keep down food,zero appetite, zero energy with three children depending on me. Depression kicked in hard. I complained i was still unwell and was told by healthcare providers that I just had twins I needed to give my body time to heal. In November 2021 my twins were 12 weeks old, I was at home packing my son’s suitcase for a residential trip when I was hit by some unexplainable pain. I was on the phone it was about 1am, the pain kept coming hard then going. It got to the point I had to cut the call. I was in so much pain in my abdomen struggling to breathe. I managed to get up walking at a slow pace and went and knocked on my neighbours door. I told her i was in a lot of pain and didn’t feel right she said I didn’t look well at all to call a ambulance being the strong person I was I said il just see how I am but can you check on me in half an hour, that’s how bad the pain was it was like a you are going to die pain there is no other way to describe it. The pain got worse and worse. I had to call an ambulance get all my children up and bring them to my neighbours house by then it was around 2am. The ambulance came and I was taken to hospital. Not taking my complaint seriously I was left sitting in a&e for 8 hours in extreme pain every breath hurt every move hurt. When I finally got called in I was given paracetamol as if that was going to do anything and an abdominal ultrasound. I was told the ultrasound was clear they couldn’t see anything and wanted to send me home.

I had to tell the hospital staff I cannot look after two new born babies and another child with all this pain I just felt if I went home my son was going to find me dead. They moved me for observation where I had fever was shaking uncontrollably and vomiting, I overheard the staff saying she works at Sainsbury’s she can get over the counter pain relief, I couldn’t believe my ears they were very dismissive of my complaints. After a few hours they told me I would be kept over night and that I would be seen the following day. The longest most painful night ever. I was seen by a consultant the next day God bless that man he felt my abdomen and saw how much pain I was in every time he touched my abdomen. He ordered a scan, within the hour I heard my name being called, they were looking for me frantically. I was told I had a perforation/hole in my duodenum which is the first and shortest part of the small intestine, C-shaped and located just after the stomach. The hole was leaking toxins into my abdominal cavity causing peritonitis. Peritonitis is an infection of the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity, and is most often caused by a ruptured or perforated organ in the abdomen. Common causes include a burst appendix, perforated stomach ulcer. Perforated ulcer: An ulcer in the stomach or duodenum can break through the organ's wall, leaking contents into the abdominal cavity. peritonitis is life-threatening and can be fatal if not treated promptly. It can lead to severe complications like sepsis, which can cause organ failure. In severe cases like generalized peritonitis mortality can be 30-50% or more. I was told I would need surgery immediately and that anyone booked into use the operating room would be postponed, I would be prioritised due to the seriousness.

I was in total shock thinking oh my God my children. Within an hour I was rushed in for surgery to close the hole, drain the abdomen and treat the peritonitis. I remember waking up in recovery, tubes in my nose, throat, abdomen with a bag. I have several iv lines attached to my hands and arms. I just thought shit, I made it, glory to God. Had I not been persistent with the doctors it would have been a different outcome. After surgery I couldn’t move, no walking no washing myself I was nil by mouth for 10 days no fluids or food just intravenous fluids antibiotics pain killers and vitamins. My friend brought the children to see me and on the first visit I couldn’t even hold them to give them a feed I was in so much pain. It was not nice being stuck in the hospital in that state counting the days until I could recover and have the strength to get back home to my children. Nearly two weeks later I was discharged with a strict diet and told that I would recover in three to four months. My friend stayed with me first few weeks to help me with the children then it was just me and them which was a struggle as I was in alot of pain. I had no choice but to be strong and push for my children hoping the light was at the end of the tunnel.

Fast forward from November 2021 to November 2025, I have not recovered from being ill. I have constant abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss due to not wanting to eat because I’m in severe pain after with severe bloating causing me to vomit. Whatever I manage to keep down sits in my upper abdomen near where I had the operation and doesn’t move through my digestive system like it should. This causing pain I have to get my children to sit on my abdomen and step on my back to force the solids down or take laxatives just to get a movement. I have been back and forward to the doctors, gastro hospital appointments to try and find out why I am still suffering in pain with so many symptoms so long after my operation but have had no luck in getting to the cause of my ongoing health issues. This has left me in a bad place because i have basically been sick since the start of my pregnancy December 2020 until present November 2025. I can’t sit and eat with my children and they no if I try and eat I’m going to be sick and in pain. Recently I have been referred to gastro at a different hospital after telling the doctors I cannot go on living like this. I do not have faith that the nhs will find the cause of my ongoing illness which is why I’m trying to fund my own scan to see if I have any luck on finding the problem. I have no appetite so I go days without eating, I never eat because I’m hungry I force myself to eat because my stomach is burning or I feel dizzy and have no energy. The regret is real anytime after eating as I no I’m going to be in pain trying to digest the food. This has made me anaemic as I can not take on the nutrition needed meaning I constantly have headaches, Dizzyness , have a lot of shortness of breath, I am always cold, drained and fatigued with minimal energy.

I also have chronic back pain going back from 2016 caused by multilevel disc degeneration, cord compression/damage thoracic spine, myelopathy in the thoracic spine, disc herniation in lumbar spine, Multilevel disc protrusion throughout spine. I have severe daily pain that is constant affecting mobility back pain spreads to my side, abdomen, neck, shoulders, arms and legs. As if that’s not enough I have a Sliding hiatus Hernia Gastritis, duodenitis Inflammation of stomach duodenum and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. This causes severe heartburn, Indigestion, vomiting, throat pain and nausea.

I find it hard to swollow because I constantly feel like somethings stuck in throat due to reflux and throat inflammation.

I have Raynauads syndrome which leads to poor circulation causing cold, numb hands and feet, making my hands and feet split, turn purple with numbness then pins needles and pain. Ontop of that I have severe varicose veins causing pain, weakness in my legs and feet.

All these things combined is alot to deal with on a daily basis, there is no days off of pain.

The nhs just have failed me which is why I have decided to take things into my own hands to get financial help to try and find the cause of my ongoing health issues. I am a single mother that just wants to improve my quality of life, have pain free days and be able to be the best mum there for my children.

I thank you for taking time to read my story and would be very grateful and appreciative of any amount of donation or shares.