Samantha Smith books follow-up appointments in Spain and America to plan future surgeries

Samantha Smith with her children

Following two unsuccessful surgeries to stop her neck dislocating, Samantha Smith has booked follow-up appointments in Spain and America to plan her next steps towards her future.

Samantha, 31, has booked an appointment with a specialist in Barcelona next month for scans, tests and his professional opinion on what is happening and the best route moving forward with surgeries.

In January, she will return to Washington for a post-op follow-up with the leading surgeon who carried out her previous two life-saving surgeries. Sam hopes he will offer clarity and further professional opinions on how the surgeries have settles, and plans to move forward.

She said: “I will then return home and compare both surgeons’ thoughts and ideas for treatment before making a carefully considered decision on my care in the future. Personally, I am still coming to terms with everything that has happened this last few months.”

“Whilst this feels like a great step in the right direction, and offers hope on the success of the surgeries I’ve had so far, my life and health are very much in limbo until December and January. The outcome could literally go one way or the other, and these appointments can’t come fast enough,” she confessed.

The mother of two from Smithy Bridge is also working towards finding more answers after her body did not respond to previous surgeries in the way she had hoped. She is currently working with a consultant at Christie’s to find out more about problems with her hormones, which she has had issues with for a long time, and hopes this will help benefit the stability of her spine.

Sam explained: “So far we know that my hormone levels, especially my adrenals and thyroid are dramatically changing throughout the day and the effect this is having upon my body’s recovery and general functioning is exhaustive.

“Some of the results have been described as ‘highly unusual in someone who’s still alive’ and this is of concern, but at the same time, the dedication of the staff there and the knowledge that some of my symptoms and instability will be worsened by this, offers me hope in the knowledge that when we fully understand what is happening, it should be possible to treat these issues.”

Samantha also will be visiting a geneticist in London next week for tests as she has crossovers between several types of EDS. Different types of EDS have different symptoms, affect various different parts of the body and vary in their severity.

According to the NHS, there are several types of EDS that may share some symptoms, including: an increased range of joint movement (joint hypermobility), stretchy skin, fragile skin that breaks or bruises easily. The NHS lists four types of EDS, but there believed to be as many as 13 different kinds.

Since returning from America, Samantha has seen some improvements, and plans to attend as many of the Save Samantha fundraiser events as possible over the coming weeks. She still needs to raise approximately £150,000 towards paying off her medical bills, and towards future surgery.

The psychotherapist continued: “Each week, I feel my mobility improves, and I am managing to regain some normality and relief from pain.

“As always, I am so very grateful to everyone who continues to support my cause and provide me with the fundraising opportunities to be here today, progressing and gathering further information for my future.

“The Save Samantha page has loads of fundraiser events including a Mad Hatter’s tea party, a Christmas fair and two afternoon teas. I will be attending as many as my body will allow, and I’m looking forward to meeting people there.”

Samantha added: “Without your support, and that of my friends, family and partner keeping me moving forward, I would be completely lost.”

Rochdale Online has closely followed Samantha’s journey since April, when we broke the news of her desperate race to raise £150,000 for lifesaving neurosurgery after her brain and spinal cord were being crushed under the weight of her own skull.

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www.youcaring.com/samanthasmith-788861

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