A toddler’s severe eczema is finally clearing up after his devoted mom raised thousands for special treatment in Europe.
Ines Dias, 22, started a GoFundMe page earlier this year to get her son Gabriel the help he needed after conventional treatment in the UK failed.
At times, the three-year-old’s eczema was so severe that he had “liquid pouring from his face, day and night.”
Ines from Peterborough, UK, had taken him to see numerous doctors and dermatologists, and even to a private clinic, over the past three years.
Tests and investigations confirmed he has a highly severe form of eczema.
But nothing could be done to ease her son’s suffering, so she started looking into treatment abroad.
Ines said: “At first, we were given antibiotics and cortisol which worked for a few days – but then it all came back.
“Before I couldn’t even sleep with him because his condition gets worse at night and that’s when he scratches most.
“The hot weather makes everything worse as well. It’s been really heart-breaking seeing him like this for so long.”
The mom-of-one discovered a form of eczema treatment available in Portugal earlier this year and launched a Gofundme to raise money.
Since then, £9,210 ($12,000 USD) has been raised by kind-hearted friends, family and strangers for Gabriel – but Ines said she’s only received some £4,000 ($5,200) so far.
However, with the money, Ines has paid for two flights to Portugal, once for his first appointment and next week for a check-up after his first round of treatment.
The doctor in question is a specialist who uses native Portuguese plants and natural creams to treat skin conditions and burns.
Gabriel must have follow-up sessions every three months in order for the treatment to yield tangible long-term benefits.
The cost of the subsequent trips and treatment sessions is, Ines said, significant – hence the plea for funding.
She said: “He started to recover about a week ago and, since then, his skin has been clearing little by little, so he’s still got some bits on his face and leg but it’s going away slowly.
“I feel so much better and happier, the way he acts now and his sleeping is so different. He is like a different kid.
“He is much more active than he was, and happier, too.
“The doctor sent the treatment to me by post and he told me to come and see him next week, so I am going to travel next week with Gabriel so the doctor can see him eye-to-eye.
“It has been a liquid treatment that has worked really well on him, I applied it once last week and it changed him completely.
“Since then, I used it once again on Wednesday a little bit. Then, I’ve used the normal creams I’ve had from before.”
Ines said she is “just so grateful” to everyone who has donated, adding: “It’s also changed my life completely.
“It’s really helped and it’s literally changing my boy’s life so a really big thank you to them.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
Edited by Saba Fatima and Asad Ali
