A woman who was diagnosed with MS as a teenager is now having to raise thousands to receive life-changing treatment abroad.
Kerrie Hamilton is a staff nurse in Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital and first noticed symptoms when she was 15.
As Kerrie dedicated her studies and career to helping others as a nurse, she is now asking for help from her local community for a better way of life.
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Speaking on the journey she has faced with MS for a decade, Kerrie said: "From 2012 I have struggled with debilitating neurological symptoms such as blurred vision, loss of power in limbs, poor coordination and slurred speech. This led to my diagnosis of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis at 17.
"My Multiple Sclerosis Journey first began when I was 15 climbing up the Sperrin mountains for my Duke of Edinburgh silver award. Halfway up the mountain without warning I started having what I can only describe as electrical impulses in my head and down my arms not knowing what was happening. I just kept marching on.
"It was only weeks after when my double vision, slurred speech, muscle weakness and balance issues came to fruition that I went to my GP and was referred to Neurology, and 2 years later I was diagnosed with Relapse Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. As you can imagine, this had completely changed my life and how I saw my future."
After receiving this life-changing diagnosis, Kerrie worked incredibly hard to become a nurse and commit to helping others.
However, as her symptoms worsen, Kerrie is now facing a huge challenge to try and raise thousands to be able to receive treatment in Mexico.
She said: "After finishing school, I gained a degree in Nursing despite my difficulties, as I’ve always wanted to help others and aspired to be a nurse. Now, I am asking for help to fundraise for this life-changing treatment.
"As a result of the ongoing and worsening conditions, I am now seeking a breakthrough treatment known as HSCT that I hope will help bring some normality to my life and halt progression of this unforgiving auto-immune disease.
"The HSCT treatment that I am fundraising for aims to stop the damage caused by MS. This treatment is not guaranteed to halt everyone’s MS progression, but thus far has proven very effective. It has been found that the sooner the treatment is started the more effective it is, so I would like to access it before this disease robs me of anymore of my abilities and the sad inevitability happens; losing the ability to walk and my own independence."
Thanks to the help of her loved ones, Kerrie was able to set up a JustGiving page to raise the funds needed to get her to Mexico.
She said: "My aim is to raise the funds required for me to travel to Mexico and receive the HSCT treatment.
"My friend Rebekah had the idea of setting up a JustGiving page, we've been friends since secondary school and she is amazing support. My boyfriend Rhys helped me compose my story for the page.
"The reception so far has been amazing everyone is so generous and because MS is so prevalent someone knows somebody with the condition. Plus since Derry is a close knit community people love to help each other which is heart warming.
"I would love to thank everyone that has donated it means to me more than words can describe."
Donations to Kerrie's treatment fund can be made here.
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