Shropshire family aims to raise £20,000 to help sick mother
A Shropshire family have launched an appeal to raise £20,000 so that their mother can travel to Europe for life-changing treatment for a disease which has confined her to a wheelchair.
Toni Kirkham, from Pant, near Oswestry, contracted Lyme disease five years ago after being bitten by a tick while working as a gardener. The disease went undiagnosed for 18 months, which resulted in it becoming chronic.
Now her family – husband Pete, daughter Jess, 17, and son Ryan, 15 – say her only hope for a cure is to travel to a private clinic in Germany.
Jess said: "We have spent all our teenage years growing up seeing how poorly mum is. We have gone from at times being her children to being her carers.
"Lyme disease was never suspected or diagnosed for 18 months which resulted in it now becoming chronic. On the NHS they will treat Lyme disease when it is diagnosed in the early stages but usually with only a very short course of antibiotics.
"As mum wasn't getting the help off the NHS she had no choice but to go privately. Her present GP managed to give her antibiotics on a private prescription, which certainly helped her condition for the latter two years.
"Unfortunately, since November her condition has slowly deteriorated.
"Dad has to help her to the toilet at night as she will collapse and she can no longer sleep without being in immense pain.
"We are looking as a family to raise funds for mum to have treatment at a clinic in Germany as we have nowhere else to send her within the NHS."
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks.
Appointments have been booked at the BCA clinic in Augsburg, Germany. Toni is scheduled to start treatment in September – but only if she can find the £20,000 to cover the costs. Toni, 44, said: "
I know there is no choice left now but to get this treatment."
To donate visit www.facebook.com/tonilymedisease
