Friends and family of Morecambe mum are rallying round hoping to raise £30,000 for her to have life-changing overseas treatment for a debilitating condition.
Samantha Burns, 36, was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis 13 years ago, is wheelchair-bound and lives with constant pain.
She has now been offered the hope of treatment in a specialist clinic in Cyprus, with a potential date of the end of November.
Her sister Sarah has set up a fundraising page 'Donate to help us give Sam hope' aiming to raise £30,000 for the treatment, hotel and travel expenses.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It cannot currently be cured, but treatment can often help manage it.
MS happens when the immune system attacks the brain and nerves, and it's not clear what causes it.
"I never imagined that one day I would be writing something like this about my little sister...the little sister with big sister energy," said Sarah, on the fundraising page.
"Samantha is 36 years old. She played football in school, danced until the sun came up in her late teens, she had dreams of being a firefighter, she spend years caring for other other in a facility for people who couldn’t help themselves.
"She is also a mum, a partner, a daughter, a sister, an aunty and a friend.
"Sam was the sort of friend who always showed up, had your back and would drop anything to help anyone. She isn’t able to be that person anymore. She is someone who should still have so much life ahead of her.
"But 13 years ago a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis has changed almost everything.
"She lives with constant pain and severe spasticity. Her body is fighting against her every minute of the day. It never stops. Sleep is difficult. Movement is difficult. Things that most of us do without even thinking have become exhausting or impossible.
"She is now wheelchair-bound. Her days consist of medications, doctor’s appointments, pain and sleep.
"As her sister, one of the hardest things in the world is watching someone you love suffer and knowing you can't simply take that pain away from them.
"I have watched her fight for things that the rest of us take for granted.
"I have watched her body become less and less cooperative, while she continues to try to be the mum her son needs.
"And despite everything MS has thrown at her, she is still fighting.
"We are now at the point that we have exhausted what the NHS can offer in the UK.
"We've found a specialist clinic in Cyprus, SOZO Brain Center, offering an intensive personalised treatment programme using neuromodulation. The treatment is aimed at helping people with neurological conditions with symptoms such as spasticity, pain, sleep difficulties and motor function. The first date we have been offered for this is the end of November so our deadline is short!
"We know there are no guarantees. We know that this isn't a cure for MS.
"But when you watch someone you love live in pain every single day, you don't want to look back and wonder, 'What if we'd tried?'
"So we're gonna try.
"The treatment and travel are expensive, and it's more than our family can afford on our own. That's why I'm asking for help.
"I'm asking you to help my sister have a chance. A chance at less pain. A chance at better sleep. A chance at more movement and independence. A chance to feel a little more like herself again. A chance to make memories with her family, with her son, without her illness being at the centre of everything. A chance for her to be a version of herself she still recognises and desperately wants to be.
"I'm not asking anyone to promise us a miracle. I'm simply asking you to help us give her the opportunity to find out what might be possible.
"This money will fund Sam’s treatment, travel expenses, hiring of equipment for use in her hotel and anything else related to this.
"If you can donate, thank you. Truly. If you can't, please share this fundraiser. You never know who might see it, or whose kindness might help us get her one step closer to Cyprus.
"My sister has spent so long fighting her own body.
"Now I want her to know that she doesn't have to fight this fight alone.
"Please help us give her a chance.
"From her little big sister, with all my heart."
Sam's friend Chloe, who contacted Beyond Radio, said Sam has tried other treatment in the UK but nothing has worked so far.
More than 1800 has been raised from the fundraiser as we went to press.
You can donate HERE.
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