Help Katie Live Again

"This pain is unbearable, I can't live like this".

This is Katie. She’s 28 years old, and despite her warm and radiant smile, she has been living in unrelenting, excruciating -daily- pain for the past 5 years. She used to be outgoing, adventurous and sporty, used to enjoy dancing, eating well, working out and running, but these days can't do any of those without it taking a heavy toll on her body.

Katie suffers from a rare and debilitating condition called Nutcracker Syndrome—a vascular compression disorder caused by the left renal vein being trapped between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. This compression restricts blood flow from the left kidney, leading to relentless pain and other life-altering complications.

In 2019, Katie underwent open surgery through the NHS in hopes of relief. Tragically, this procedure only worsened her condition, leaving her in even greater pain. Since then, she has endured multiple failed treatments, including the insertion of a large stent, which not only didn’t help but caused severe internal scarring and additional agony.

Since then nothing has helped ease her pain, not any dosage of heavy painkillers, minor pain relieving surgeries (she tried more than a dozen) and no form of body therapy. Instead, her turmoil only deepens as the pain spreads to other parts of her body, turning even the simplest tasks—or just trying to rest—into an exhausting battle. More and more, Katie finds herself wondering how much longer she can endure this.

But there is still hope.

A kind and highly skilled specialist has offered Katie a lifeline: a kidney autotransplant. A complex surgery designed to address the compression and resolve her pain while keeping both her kidneys. This is the procedure Katie needed from the very beginning, and it could finally give her the chance to live pain-free. However, due to complications from previous surgeries and treatments, this procedure could no longer be covered by insurance and now comes with an overwhelming cost of £50,000. This reflects the fact that there are just a few surgeons who can perform the required surgery.

Katie's determination and strength are incredible, but she needs the support of compassionate people to make this surgery a reality. Every single donation—no matter how small—brings Katie one step closer to living without pain. Even if you’re unable to donate, sharing her story could make all the difference, not just for Katie but also for raising awareness of Nutcracker Syndrome.

Together we can restore Katie's hope and give her her life back.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your time and kindness.

**** Update*****

Recently, after long-awaited scans and tests, Katie received heartbreaking news: the kidney autotransplant is no longer a viable option. Her doctors will now attempt to de-nerve the kidney — a procedure with very low success rates, especially in her case. If this fails, the next step is full kidney removal. Because of her stent, she won’t be able to donate it, and she would be left with just one functioning kidney at such a young age. This is the outcome she’s fought hard to avoid, but we’re holding on to hope that it may finally bring her the relief she so deeply deserves.

We’re still unclear on the total costs involved, and the waiting times are another ongoing challenge. What we do know is that her recovery will be long and difficult. She will be unable to work, move around easily, or engage in the things she loves. While we are no longer aiming for the original fundraising goal, your kind donations we received are going directly toward her treatment, private consultations, pain management for the new pains in other areas of her body, therapy, and day-to-day support for when she is in recovery post surgery.

We are still in need of help — and any contribution, no matter the size, means the world. Thank you endlessly for standing by Katie.