Hello, I’m Melissa.

I am giving my GoFundMe page another big push because my health has unfortunately declined, and I urgently need to reach my goal. Thanks to some amazing support, I have already raised £859!

I really don’t want to get something for nothing. That is exactly why I have been selling my handmade gifts to raise this money myself. While I am still proudly offering these gifts in return for your kind donations, the sales are simply not happening as quickly as I desperately need them to.

To help me reach the remaining balance of my £7,000 target, I am accepting kind donations. If 6,150 people donated £1 each, it would completely change my life and get me over the finish line. I promise that when I am better, I will pay the kindness forward to others in need.

I have been unwell for almost five years with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome caused by autoimmune dysfunction. Because of this, I experience severe symptoms daily: I cannot regulate my body temperature, my metabolism is impaired, and I have put on 8 stone so far. This massive weight gain is putting a dangerous strain on my heart and has caused POTS disorder. I also suffer from painful gastro and reflux issues, and I previously had a tumour on my spleen which had to be surgically removed.

Unfortunately, this all began during lockdown when I couldn’t get a GP appointment. Scared and in pain, I spent all my savings on private treatments, IV drips, full-body MRI scans, and any tests I thought might give me answers. By the time I finally saw my GP, my money was gone, and because I am physically unable to work due to these conditions, I had to use the rest of my savings just to survive.

While my NHS appointments are finally coming through, the system is fraught with mistakes. I am constantly facing administrative errors, the wrong medical notes being shared, and having to endlessly chase up my own care. I am losing years of my life and cannot keep waiting on an overburdened system where the goalposts are constantly moving.

Going privately in the UK would cost around £17,000. However, I have found that traveling to India for specialist medical care will cost around £7,000.

My planned treatment and testing at Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon, India

I have identified Medanta – The Medicity as the hospital best equipped to provide the specialist testing and care I need. I will need to stay there for about two weeks. Some tests require overnight hospital stays, and I need these funds to cover the medical costs, accommodation, and food.

Any additional funds raised will also greatly help with ongoing treatments once I return home, as the NHS would make me test with them all over again—which would take years—and I want to start my treatment right away.

Your support means the world to me. If you choose to donate, I am more than happy to send you one of my handmade gifts as a sincere thank-you token to give something back. Because of my severe health limitations and the need to carefully manage my energy, I just ask for your realistic understanding and patience regarding production and delivery timeframes.

Every single pound brings me closer to reclaiming my health and my life. Thank you so much for your kindness and support.