Comedian Jason Manford’s ‘charity ninjas’ donate thousands of pounds towards local woman’s medical bills

A local sick woman has received thousands of pounds towards her medical tests after comedian Jason Manford raised her plight with his ‘charity ninjas’ on Friday (22 February).

The ‘charity ninjas’ are anonymous fans who donate towards a cause that Jason highlights on social media, often leading causes to hit their targets within a relatively short period of time.

Following the post highlighting Stacey Parker’s cause of raising money for private medical testing to find answers for her undiagnosed medical conditions, a further £3,600 was donated in a short period of time.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/125964/sick-woman-continues-to-fundraise-for-private-tests-to-find-answers-for-illnesses

Stacey and her mum, Bernadette, hope with this testing, Stacey will then be able to get the correct diagnosis and treatment she deserves to get better.

Diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Stacey first fell ill with a range of strange symptoms in early 2016 – it is still taking medical professionals’ time to connect all the dots together.

MCAS sufferers’ immune systems become hyper sensitive and they react to all sort of normal things, often with a very limited diet and they become housebound as they are sensitive to environmental triggers.

Bernadette said: “I want to personally thank Jason and all his ninjas for sharing my daughter Stacey's story and for all the kind donations.

“The moment Stacey realised Jason had picked her was when her phone kept getting alert after alert after alert. Her phone was out of reach, so I got it for her and said, ‘oh you have had a donation.’

“I gave Stacey her phone and I wish I had videoed her reaction. The Stacey I knew was back for a few seconds – a big smile through the pain and relief came over her face, like she was going to get her life back.

“It was a priceless moment.”

She added: “Thank you Jason, the Ninjas and everybody else who has donated and shared over the last few months. My faith in humanity has returned; there are some good people out there.”

Stacey was also recently diagnosed with lipoedema and lymphoedema, plus a life-altering and debilitating condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS), which causes fatigue, palpitations, fainting/near fainting, and stomach issues, amongst other symptoms.

Lipoedema, often misdiagnosed as obesity, consists of abnormal fat deposits sit under the skin, which can be painful and cause easy bruising, whereas lymphoedema causes swelling in the body's tissues.

 

 

Unfortunately, for Stacey, garments useful for lymphoedema will be too painful for her due to the lipoedema. The only treatment that appears to be effective in reducing the build-up of fatty tissue associated with lipoedema is a procedure called tumescent liposuction, which is rarely funded by the NHS.

PoTS is characterised by orthostatic intolerance, the development of symptoms when upright that are relieved by lying down. Stacey is awaiting to be reviewed by a cardiologist but has been told the standard treatment method of betablockers cannot be used: should she need to use her EpiPens for anaphylaxis, they will not work.

As Stacey also has several problems with her spine – including lumbar lordosis, bone spurs, intravertebral disk herniation and joint hypertrophy – she will be undergoing an upright MRI scan on Monday (25 February), which would be less painful than a traditional lie-down one.

Over £8,000 has been raised to date, with the family continuing to fundraise in anticipation of further medical tests.

Any remaining funds will be donated to the Mast Cell Action charity.

To donate to Stacey’s cause, please visit:

• www.gofundme.com/helpforstaceyp 
• www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helpforstacey