Provisional date of 25 January for Samantha Smith’s £250,000 'lifetime fix' operation

Samantha Smith, whose brain and spinal cord were being crushed under the weight of her own skull, has been given a provisional surgery date of 25 January for her ‘lifetime fix’ operation in America.

Due to several medical conditions, psychotherapist Samantha, 32, from Smithy Bridge, desperately needs to raise funds for the operation after previous ones were not as successful as hoped. Her body is deteriorating so rapidly, she also requires brain surgery as her brainstem is falling out of her skull.

The upcoming operation has been hailed by her surgeon as a ‘lifetime fix’ for the brave mum, who lives in constant excruciating pain, which would fuse her spine from the base of her skull through to her mid-back.

Sam, who has two young children, must pay the majority of the £250,000 operation in early January, or face cancelling the lifesaving surgery. The rest needs to be paid within two weeks of discharge.

As the next operation will be correcting the deterioration from previous surgeries, the cost will be triple the amount expected, and means Samantha is now in a desperate race against time to raise the funds so the surgery in Arizona can go ahead.

The brave mother of two said: “We’re 50% of our way to the costs of surgery. I have a provisional date of 25 January, which I must cancel if I can’t pay the majority of costs in early January.

“I know it’s the worst time of year to ask for help - and no one wants to see or hear my uncomfortable pleas amidst the Christmas trees and fun, but I’m desperate now. I need my children to know I’ve done everything in my power to be with them.

“It’s unfair that there’s a proven operation which can help me, and that the UK can’t provide it.

“It’s a shock that the cost is so high, but this is the price of specialist surgeries for rare conditions.

“I’m heartbroken and so tired; the daily pain and torment is draining.

“This could have happened to anyone: please ask yourself what you would do to survive.”

The Save Samantha appeal has raised approximately £125,000 towards Sam’s next operation, but urgently needs your help to raise the remainder before January.  

After ‘a lifetime of pain and eight years of tests, misdiagnoses and ill health,’ Samantha was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a genetic condition of the connective tissue, in December 2016, plus additional complications.

How you can help Save Samantha

Donations can be made via:

Just Giving: ww.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/save-samantha-smith

PayPal: www.paypal.me/savesamanthapurchase

Bank Transfer: 

Name: Save Samantha 
Account no: 90266248
Sort code: 20-45-45

Read more about Samantha's brave journey:

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/news-archives?type=News&Criteria=Samantha+Smith