Help Parris get fast treatment for cervical cancer

This is my beautiful daughter Parris.  A week on Sunday, St Patrick's Day, will be her 28th birthday.

On 19th January she flew out to the UAE to fulfil her ambition of working abroad as an English Teacher.  Three days later we received the news that she has a rare and invasive cancerous tumour in her cervix. She'd had preventative laser treatment on 9th January following an abnormal smear result, despite the consultant saying everything 'looked fine'.  We didn't know at the time the consultant had taken a biopsy as a precaution.  Thank God she did.

Fast forward to now and Parris has seen a consultant in Dubai, who is at the top of his game.  Professor Mousa Al Kurdi (see https://aemdc.com/dr-mousa-al-kurdi/) has extensive experience working in the field of gynaecology and fertility; he was the first person to successfully perform the procedure Parris needs back in 1995 and 1996.  In addition he has taught in this country, mostly in Cambridge, for over 30 years.  He is also a fertility expert; IVF couples who are unable to conceive go to him for help.  This guy really knows his stuff.

For those of you who know Parris you'll agree she was born to be a mum, yet to complicate matters further it turns out she has a heart shaped womb, giving her a 10% increased chance of miscarriage under normal circumstances; Prof Mousa Al Kurdi can rectify this at the same time as removing the tumour.  So you can understand how important it is to Parris that he performs this surgery for her.  Furthermore, he can book her in for the op NEXT WEEK … unlike over here in the UK where she'd have to wait quite a bit longer.

Due to Parris not being over there long, the medical insurance company initially told us they wouldn't pay for her surgery.  Then, after Parris quite literally banged on their door last week, they said they would.  Yesterday they told us they'll only pay SOME of the fee, but we have to find a portion of the £25,000 that they've quoted us for the op.  We've been told the surplus/excess/whatever they're calling it is around £7,000, plus there may be additional aftercare costs that we may need to factor in.  The problem is that the clock it ticking and with the cancer being invasive it's so important that this tumour is removed as a matter of extreme urgency!!

So if you can help in any way at all we will be eternally grateful.  If you can't we will be equally grateful if you help to raise awareness of our situation by sharing this with your contacts.  Thank you so much for even taking time to read this xx

Here is Parris' story in her own words, posted earlier today on Facebook …

I think it’s time to share something that I have been dealing with recently, so that other girls are made aware of the importance of regular check-ups in young girls.

A week into arriving in the UAE, two months ago, I was sat in a car outside my hotel. I was sat with a colleague, that I didn’t really know from Adam.

My UK doctor called me to tell me they had unexpectedly found the early stages of invasive cervical cancer - a tumour.

After many weeks of figuring out, negotiating, considering options, researching and of course the rest, I have finally almost reached the time when I will be seen for an operation here in the UAE. I will be at hospital in Dubai for about a week, following a 5-7 hour operation. The recovery time is 4-6 weeks.

Please understand if I haven’t told you personally about this. I have been stuck between a rock and a hard place for many weeks, trying to work out the best option for myself.

If I came home to have the operation done for free on the NHS, I would have to wait to be seen for a much longer time period, which could be dangerous. I do not have any children and do not want to wake up to be told that it was too late to keep my uterus, so they had to remove it. Time is of the essence. Having treatment here means that I will be seen much more quickly. I will also avoid the extra consequence of losing my job here, which would be a low blow, as I’ve worked my whole life towards getting to where I am now.

I am writing this status not for messages, likes, comments or attention - I have known about this since I first arrived in this new country (with all the extra fun that brings with setting up, ha ha!) It is with nothing but the hope that I will spread awareness. I have dealt with this with some closest people to me, for the last few weeks over WhatsApp and have made some of the most wonderful, supportive friends here, too. I am happy, the happiest I have been in a long time, if you take away all of this going on.

I just wish for it all to be over; to wake up with the ability to have children.

I am sure I don’t need to remind you all about Jade Goody, who lost her life to cervical cancer at such a young age. It was too late for her. I found out I have cancer because of a simple routine smear, that I almost didn’t go to. I cannot express the importance of girls making sure that they go for regular smear tests. Smear tests do not even begin until a girl is over a certain age, which makes them almost seem as though they aren’t important. I am here to tell you that they are.

On a positive note: the HPV injection is also now available in many schools - this helps to prevent cervical cancer - It could happen to any of us. You never think it will happen to you, but I have lived in the fear of never being able to bear my own child for the last two months, in a new country, without any of my family here. I could have saved so much of this if I’d have made sure that I went for more regular smear tests. It might not be too late for you. ☺️

Please understand how many questions and messages my family will already be getting, especially my poor mum. I am absolutely fine and have been laughing and dancing all the way through the last 8 weeks. It’s just one of those things that happens in life. I will get through it, no matter what the consequences are, because it’s part of my journey.

Thank you for listening to my huge essay.

Parris