Please help Bek get life-changing surgery overseas

Hi I’m Anna. My wonderful friend Rebecca was fit and active, and an amazing wife and mother to her young children. In August 2020 however, she woke up profoundly sick and disabled the day after an emergency room lumbar puncture (a procedure where a needle is inserted in the spine to extract spinal fluid for analysis) and she has never recovered.

Bek’s sudden onset symptoms were/are consistent with a spinal fluid leak. Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) is a necessary cushion to keep our brain and spinal cord protected. When this fluid escapes through a hole or tear, the brain is no longer supported in the skull. Not having enough fluid in your head to support your brain results in catastrophic symptoms including crushing head pain. This means that Bek has been bedbound, non functional, and forced to remain laying flat in a dark quiet room for almost 4 years. She has a constellation of other relentless debilitating pain and neurological symptoms that she describes as cruel, inhumane and torture. She cannot engage in any activities (e.g. watching TV, reading a book, leaving the house, or socialising), or enjoy any meaningful relationships, including communicating with her children. Her injury has had a devastating impact on her role as a mother.

Bek is severely impacted by her illness, and her quality of life is zero.

Knowledge of this condition in Australia is very limited. Since this injury occurred, Bek has endured 10 trips to Sydney from Rockhampton in Central QLD, for various invasive investigations to confirm the diagnosis of CSF leak, as well as treatment attempts. This has depleted their family's financial resources. All available interventions in this country have now been exhausted, however Bek has been offered neurosurgery with a CSF Leak specialist at the Lindenhof Hospital in Bern Switzerland to attempt at sealing her CSF leak, and give her, her life back.

The total cost of accessing surgery is approximately $108 000. We are crowd funding, however, for just the cost of the surgery itself which is $76 200. Should the total amazingly surpass this goal, Bek's additional expenses (e.g. travel, accommodation, accompanying support person etc) will be covered instead of relying on a compassionate release of all of her limited Superannuation.

I would love to see an end to Bek’s suffering, and for her husband and children to have their wife and mum back. I recognise times are tough, but any donations no matter how small all add up and are appreciated. Maybe you can also help by sharing this appeal among your friends and family.

Bek’s family is in crisis and her suffering is dire.

Bek and her family 18 months before her injury.