My name is Donna Lemonious Hermitt, and I am making this appeal to anyone who has ever been ill, or know someone who has been ill, and just could not afford to pay for a serious procedure that is absolutely necessary in order to live a normal life.

Almost one year ago, my 14-year-old son, Giovanni, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of scoliosis. After x-rays and other tests, I was told that he needed to undergo surgery to enable him to live a normal life.

Given my family circumstances, we are not in a position to undertake this huge cost. My husband is the sole bread winner in the family and what he earns is not even enough to cover rent, food, utilities and other day-to-day expenses.

I am, therefore, using this opportunity to appeal for assistance to have this life-changing surgery for my son. He was doing well at school, and used to play football, but I am now seeing how this condition is slowing eroding his confidence and affecting his life. I am now very concerned about what will happen to him if he does not undergo this procedure soon.

As his mother, it breaks my heart to think that rather than focussing on continuing to perform well in school, he has to be facing the real possibility of continuing to live with this condition if we are not able to get the help he needs.

Without your help we will not be able to afford this important procedure as we know no-one else who will be able to assist to this magnitude. But I believe that there are many considerate and kind people in this world.

I, therefore, appeal to anyone who can help to kindly contribute to this cause.

Thank you.

Donna Lemonious Hermitt