A BOURNEMOUTH mum and ex-nurse with a life-limiting condition is calling on donations for life-changing surgery.
Abi Jolley, a nurse for almost 20 years, lives in Bournemouth with her husband and 18-year-old son. But she has also spent most of the recent years of her life admitted to hospital.
She was diagnosed with Gastroparesis and Bowel Dysmotility which has severely impacted her life.
Speaking on her experience, the 46-year-old said: “About three and a half years ago, it was Christmas time and I was starting to feel sick every time I ate and get a reflux.
“I went into hospital for a blood test and they said I was in a nutritional crisis and would have died if I didn't come in and had a tube put down to feed me.
“I was due to get married in June, so I kept asking to have the tube out but the doctor said: ‘I don't think you're ever going to eat again.’
“That was a complete shock, I went to London to get a second opinion and they agreed and said, 'your stomach's not working, it's paralysed'.
“Then my condition escalated because the feeding tube goes into my stomach and sits in my bowel, but I vomit six, seven, eight times a day and then that can flip the tube into my stomach.
“I've had this tube replaced 18 times and every time I replace it. It's by gastroscopy, so it's become quite traumatic now and then that happens every two, three, four months.
“It's just got to the point that I don't feel like I'm really living anymore, I'm just kind of existing.”
Now, Abi needs a gastric pacemaker that could be life-changing to her day-to-day life.
The pacemaker used to be on the NHS but seven years ago, this was revoked and now it costs £30,000.
Abi’s friends and colleagues have set up a GoFundMe for the surgery, titled: ‘Gastric Pacemaker Surgery’ where donations can be made.
Abi also wishes to raise awareness for Guts UK, she added: “Guts UK hasn't really been known for a long time, they're a new charity that is trying to support all people with guts and gastro conditions and they do everything they can to support people like me.”
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