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<div><span><b>**** CRITICAL UPDATE*****</b></span>
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<div><span>Recently, after long-awaited scans and tests, Katie received heartbreaking news: the kidney autotransplant may no longer be a viable option due to the current state of her body. </span><span>Katie is now facing the possibility of a kidney removal (nephrectomy), which her doctors have said may not even improve her condition. In an effort to explore every option before undergoing such a major procedure, she recently underwent a denervation procedure, hoping it would relieve her pain. Unfortunately, not only did it fail to help, but it also made her pain significantly worse. <b><i>Katie is now experiencing the most intense, persistent pain of her life, every single day</i></b>. She can’t sleep, her body rejects food, and she keeps losing significant weight. Katie has lost all hope and is fighting to survive on a daily basis. The same professor said he could attempt the autotransplant against all odds, which remains the last hope while the NHS continue to neglect her. If that doesn’t work he will have to take her functioning kidney out. And so, we are still trying to raise enough funds to book the private appointment which comes at a ridiculous fee (over £50K). Thank you for your time  </span>
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<div><span>“I  can't live like this".</span>
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<div>This is Katie. She’s 29 years old, and despite her warm and radiant smile, she has been living in unrelenting, excruciating -daily- pain for the past 5 years. She used to be outgoing, adventurous and sporty, used to enjoy dancing, eating well, working out and running, but these days can't do any of those without it taking a heavy toll on her body.





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<div>Katie suffers from a rare and debilitating condition called Nutcracker Syndrome—a vascular compression disorder caused by the left renal vein being trapped between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. This compression restricts blood flow from the left kidney, leading to relentless pain and other life-altering complications.





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<div>In 2019, Katie underwent open surgery through the NHS in hopes of relief. Tragically, this procedure only worsened her condition, leaving her in even greater pain. Since then, she has endured multiple failed treatments, including the insertion of a large stent, which not only didn’t help but caused severe internal scarring and additional agony. 





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<div>Since then nothing has helped ease her pain, not any dosage of heavy painkillers, minor pain relieving surgeries (she tried more than a dozen) and no form of body therapy. Instead, her turmoil only deepens as the pain spreads to other parts of her body, turning even the simplest tasks—or just trying to rest—into an exhausting battle. More and more, Katie finds herself wondering how much longer she can endure this.





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<div><strong>But there is still hope.</strong>





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<div>A kind and highly skilled specialist has offered Katie a lifeline: a kidney autotransplant. A complex surgery designed to address the compression and resolve her pain while keeping both her kidneys. This is the procedure Katie needed from the very beginning, and it could finally give her the chance to live pain-free. However, due to complications from previous surgeries and treatments, this procedure could no longer be covered by insurance and now comes with an overwhelming cost of £50,000. This reflects the fact that there are just a few surgeons who can perform the required surgery.





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<div>Katie's determination and strength are incredible, but she needs the support of compassionate people to make this surgery a reality. Every single donation—no matter how small—brings Katie one step closer to living without pain. Even if you’re unable to donate, sharing her story could make all the difference, not just for Katie but also for raising awareness of Nutcracker Syndrome.





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<div>Together we can restore Katie's hope and give her <span>her life back.</span>




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<div>Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your time and kindness.




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Katie Shalka

Katie Shalka

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