Ali’s medical crisis started a decade ago.
Ali graduated from University as a self-funded mature student who worked two jobs to support herself to start her career in holistic health. Soon after, Ali fell pregnant. She gave birth to the wonderful Reuben and Elijah by c-section. This unfortunately resulted in a serious infection in her c-section wound. This greatly impacted the early days of their journey as a family. Due to the twin pregnancy and subsequent infection, high temperature, soaring hormones and a set of incredible challenging wider circumstances as a newly single parent, Ali developed postpartum psychosis and depression.
As the months passed, Ali began to recover her mental health and she and the twins adjusted to everyday life. Her physical recovery was slow and challenging and she has never fully recovered physically which has prevented her from returning to the career she worked so hard to start .
Ali experienced further health complications following the discovery of an incisional hernia in her abdomen, a complication from her c-section. She had to undergo surgery in 2016. This surgery was unsuccessful and was followed by a second round of surgery in 2019. This involved using mesh and was once again unsuccessful.
Ali was now suffering from the original complications from her pregnancy and birth and the additional complications of two failed surgeries. She is left with a broken medical mesh implant, embedded in her abdominal tissues, causing extreme pain and discomfort and cutting her internally. She endures this pain daily. The material itself is creating allergic/autoimmune responses within her body.
Whilst Ali was working hard to be a Mom to her twins, recover from post partum depression and two unsuccessful surgeries, she suffered further devastation when her Mom died of cancer. Needless to say, Ali has experienced a lot of suffering both physical and emotional, and we are hoping her community of friends and family can provide support and assistance in this difficult time.
Currently, Ali is an in-patient in hospital as it was discovered that a piece of bowel within the abdominal hernia is becoming blocked. This is potentially life threatening and Ali needs constant monitoring to ensure the situation does not deteriorate. Under normal circumstances, Ali would undergo further surgery using mesh to repair the gap. However, due to the fact that her body rejects mesh implants, this is not a safe option for her. Alternatives are being researched and planned but until that surgery, Ali has to remain in hospital to minimise the risk of the bowel becoming too damaged to save.
Her prolonged stay in the hospital has meant that Ali is struggling financially and dealing with the mounting costs involved in the practicalities of family life without being able to work to alleviate those costs or care for her two young sons. Ali and the boys have been given a Band A priority status for a new house that will meet the needs of Ali’s physicality and the needs of the boys with the additional challenges that Autism and ADHD present. They urgently need financial help for the house move, costs that have arisen as a result of Ali’s extended hospital admission, a new bed and mattress for Ali, money to pay for some essential household equipment to make everyday tasks easier, childcare and activity money for the boys. It would be a massive weight off Ali’s mind if she has enough funds to meet the financial costs of these upcoming changes so that she can focus on recovering and getting her health back. It is not in her nature to ask for help but the cumulative and devastating effects of her medical situation over the last decade has meant that she has had to put her pride aside and seek the help of others in order to move forwards in her recovery.
We are hoping that we can come together as a community to help our dear friend Ali so that she can start moving towards a healthier and brighter future with her family. Any size of contribution is most welcome and sharing on social media platforms would be appreciated.
Listen to Ali’s experience about her mesh here:
https://thebusinessofhealthcare.libsyn.com/297-the-mesh-scandal-a-patients-experience?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0GujPp0MFrOmaG8NUZsZT4bmEjVXrXs1zJ1YYmLZ1IViaxuV90yFuwgKI_aem_5nNkZJoNOC8bsSjG-dSqqg