Laura Sylvester is a PESGB member who was taking the MSc Petroleum Geoscience course at Imperial College before severe illness curtailed her studies. Laura had to undergo critical lifesaving neurosurgery in the USA which was successful, funded by generous crowdfunding donations. However Laura is in need a second critical and equally costly neurosurgery which requires a doubling of efforts to raise the funds.

The appeal for Laura is on the following funding website https://www.youcaring.com/laura-sylvester-483048  and a message from Laura follows:

On 7 August 2014, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) with P oTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome). EDS causes the connective tissue throughout my body to be extremely stretchy and easily breakable – there is no cure for it. Over time, my muscles in my neck have become very unstable, which has further led to dislocation/subluxation of my vertebrae, disruption of my spinal cord ligaments, and compression on my cerebellar tonsils and brain stem. Suddenly my life was flipped upside down and this degenerative muscular condition caused me to deteriorate quickly,  forcing me to postpone my Master’s degree at Imperial College, return home, and be cared for by my parents. Once an  extremely sporty, sociable, positive and driven young woman, I have become tremendously vulnerable. I am in extreme pain, I wear a neck brace all day, and I am at constant risk of further damaging my brain stem, that would consequently cause me to stop breathing.

SURGERY#2 FUNDRAISING APPEAL | #careforlaura | www.mindbodyeds.me
Since announcing the success of my complex lifesaving craniocervical fusion neurosurgery on the 13 January in Washington D.C., I have been undergoing further clinical tests, X-rays and MRIs of my lumbar spine. The reason for this is that I have been experiencing differently-sourced neurological symptoms that have been increasing in severity but are not linked with my first surgery or neck injuries. Unfortunately, this requires imminent further lifesaving surgery in order to preserve my lower body motor and sensory functions. If left untreated, ultimately this will fundamentally threaten my quality of life. Should I experience a fall or trauma, there is a high risk that any part of my spinal cord could de-tether/disconnect which would cause permanent paralysis to my lower body.

I am therefore in URGENT NEED of a SECOND critical and equally costly lifesaving neurosurgery which is scheduled for Wednesday 17 February 2016 in Washington D.C. and will be carried out by the same neurosurgeon, Dr Fraser Henderson. The diagnoses given are that I have “Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome” in my L1/L2 vertebrae and “Spina Bifida Occulta” of my S1 vertebra which means this bone was incompletely formed, resulting in an exposed and unprotected region of my spinal cord. Both diagnoses pose severe risks to the integrity of my spinal cord as it is being “over-stretched”, causing extreme neurological symptoms such as: weakness of lower limbs; numbness to my lumbar spine and lower limbs; burning sensation in palms of both hands; persistent headaches; a sensory neurogenic bladder dysfunction etc. Both diagnoses are related to my rare genetic disease, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS).

Consequently, I am reaching out to you all for a “Surgery #2” fundraising appeal which includes expenses for the surgery, hospital fees, medication, initial physiotherapy and hotel accommodation for the extended stay until April before I am allowed to return to the UK.

My updated target goal is now £190,000. This total combines both “Surgery #1” and “Surgery #2” fundraising appeals for all expenses and additional necessary funds for my post-operative rehabilitation care back in the U.K. (physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, specialist consultations, medications etc.) for both my neck and now my lumbar spine that I will need for the rest of my life.

The surgery will include removing part of the back of L1 and L2 vertebrae bones in order to gain access to my spinal cord. They will then detach the filum terminale which is fibrous tissue connecting the bottom of my spinal cord with the coccyx vertebra and is causing an “anchoring” and “over-stretching” effect of my spinal cord. This should then “release” the stress on my spinal cord and prevent any further risk to my lower body motor and sensory functions thus allowing me to “get my life back”.The surgery will finish with L1 and L2 vertebrae fusion to create stability. I am keen to resume my MSc Petroleum Geoscience degree at Imperial College, London and live life to the full.

Again, the surgery is extremely high risk, but thankfully I will be in the gifted hands of the world’s best EDS specialist neurosurgeon, Dr Fraser Henderson. My family and I are extremely indebted to those who have donated thus far to what we believed would be the only surgery required (which I now refer to as my “Surgery #1” fundraising appeal).

Nonetheless, we now URGENTLY face another life-threatening hurdle.   As time is of the essence and my lifesaving surgery is less than a week away, I am asking you to PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING to my “Surgery #2” fundraising appeal.  I will be forever grateful for your support in helping me through this most difficult time of my life.  Thank You!