Samantha Smith needs 'aggressive' £150,000 operation in America by October

One year after undergoing several life-saving operations to stabilise her neck and spine, Samantha Smith has revealed the devastating news that she needs further aggressive surgery – and fast.

The brave mother-of-two from Smithy Bridge, 31, underwent three extensive surgeries last summer after her brain and spinal cord were being crushed under the weight of her own skull. Unfortunately, the operations did not have the success rate anticipated, meaning Samantha requires another operation in the US.

The cost of the latest operation is estimated at £150,000 and must be carried out before October due to the rate that Sam’s health is deteriorating. Many symptoms that were present prior to the psychotherapist’s first operation have returned, such as persistent pain, tremors, abnormally fast and slow heart rates, dislocations, trapped nerves and spinal cord damage.

She said: “I’m deteriorating. I need surgery fast, and to get the surgery, I need to fundraise again.

“I’ll be honest: I’ve enjoyed pushing my limits and embracing the days in a way I couldn’t do 12 months ago, but the time is here now to embrace the fundraising and accept that these scary health issues can’t safely be avoided much longer.

“I’ve been trying to give my children their real mummy back for a short while. I’ve tried to prepare them and build resilience to climb a mountain that we’ve climbed and crumbled upon before. I’ve been trying to deny that anything is happening and trying harder to find myself, despite knowing deep down that the old Samantha and her plans and hopes have gone. There’s a new one with an unknown future and a daily struggle in store as her replacement.

“I can’t convince myself that symptoms of decline are recovery any longer. Symptoms I had forgotten I’d experienced whilst at my worst last year have reappeared. My heart is struggling desperately, my endocrine system is completely malfunctioning, and my autonomic nervous system is dysfunctional.”

Samantha is in the process of looking at options with a different surgeon in America, rather than returning to her previous one.

Saving Samantha

Rochdale Online has closely followed Samantha’s journey since April 2017, when we broke the news of her desperate race to raise £150,000 for lifesaving neurosurgery, due to a number of medical conditions such as EDS, unstable vertebrae and lack of connective tissue support between her skull and spine.

Samantha underwent three lifesaving operations that summer, but despite a high success rate, the surgeries failed to stabilise her upper vertebrae and head as expected.

Sam was later given the devasting news that she will require another extensive and aggressive operation that will restrict all movement in her head and neck.

There is also the devastating possibility that psychotherapist Samantha, whose joints still continue to dislocate all over her body, will require a full spinal fusion, further removing all movement from her spine, head and neck.

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How you can help

Donations can be made via Youcaring or bank transfer.

Youcaring: www.youcaring.com/samanthasmith-788861

Or transfer donations to: 
Name: Save Samantha 
Account No: 90266248
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