A family from Co Down has issued an urgent plea for help after their son was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease thousands of miles from home.
Alan McDonald, 32, is preparing for treatment for the Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a condition that causes blood clots to form in blood vessels, blocking blood flow to important organs.
Originally from Newcastle, he has lived in New Zealand for the last three years and his family need to pay for treatment to stabilise him before he can be brought home safely.
The treatment costs tens of thousands in New Zealand.
His sister Anna, 30, told Belfast Live: “Alan had been feeling unwell for the last few months, but was having no luck getting answers as to why.
"He was undergoing tests in hospital, being seen by various specialist doctors and as big brothers and sons do, keeping a lot of the worrying details from us back home.
“His condition started to deteriorate really quickly at the beginning of March, with his medical team now working on a diagnosis of this extremely rare disease called aHUS. He is so weak and needs to receive treatment to fight it as soon as possible.
“If Alan was at home, he would be given the treatment on the NHS. But he isn’t well enough to leave hospital yet and the medication isn’t covered in New Zealand, so we have to fund it ourselves.
“He is the most kind, loyal and happy person, loved by everyone who knows him. He means everything to us and we will do all we can to save his life.”
Alan lives in Christchurch with his fiancée, Sophie, and has been unable to return home due to the pandemic.
New Zealand’s borders are still closed to visitors, so his parents, Geraldine and Davy, and sister Anna are unable to reach him.
They are desperate to raise the money needed to get him treated and back to Newcastle safely.
Anna said: “My family has struggled to get through each day this week, but the support we have received in the last 24 hours has been overwhelming and given us the boost we needed to keep going.
"We were able to speak to Alan last night and tell him how everyone at home is rallying behind him. He was speechless. While we can’t be by his side or hold his hand, he knows we are with him in spirit every step of the way."
To donate to the fundraiser, visit this link.
