Edinburgh woman's desperate bid to get treatment in the US after life 'ripped away'
A young Edinburgh woman suffering from a devastating condition has launched a fundraiser to get her to the US for life-changing treatment.
Becca Finlay, from Gilmerton, was diagnosed with Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS) in 2019 while she was studying nursing at the University of Glasgow. The condition is a rare, gastrointestinal disorder that carries a staggering 33 per cent mortality rate if left untreated.
After years of surviving with a PEG-J feeding tube - a special tube that passes directly through her skin into her stomach and then into her small intestine - Becca is hoping she will be able to be cured through US treatment after years of struggling to eat, drink and move around her home.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, the 24-year-old said surgery is "her main focus" and she would do anything to get her life back.
She currently suffers from vomiting, nausea, stomach pain and bloating daily and was also forced to give up her studies due to her health. She was "robbed" of the ability to nourish herself properly.
Becca added: "When I was at university, I started having vomiting episodes and I kept going back to the doctors over a period of two years.
"I eventually had a test which showed the blockage in my bowel. I was taken into hospital within a few weeks and I got a feeding tube placed through my nose and into my small bowel.
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"When this all happened, I was studying to be a nurse and I had to drop out in my second year because I was deemed not fit to do it anymore. Food and drink couldn't get down so I was forced to vomit.
"There are days when I am confined to my bed due to the pain I am in. My weight fluctuates constantly too - one minute I am a healthy weight and the next I have lost two stone.
"I have been impacted mentally too because I don't like going out. I know that maybe sounds stupid but because I don't have easy access to a toilet, I don't like going out so it's restricted me seeing my friends."
When Becca was told of the condition, she was relieved to have an answer but she was "scared of what was to come".
Although there is surgery available in the UK, it's not specific to SMAS and it will not cure the condition. She is hoping to raise around £20,000 to £30,000 to get to the US.
She added: "I am not dying, I survive currently with a tube in my stomach that feeds me food overnight for 15 hours and that's how I get my nutrition.
"There are two doctors I know of that can shift the blockage away and take it out and it would completely cure me - I would be SMAS free.
"This is the main focus in my life - there is nothing more I want. I went from being a completely normal teenager to having my life ripped away.
"I would do anything to get my life back. I could go back to nursing, pursue my dream career, go back to hobbies - it would mean everything to me because I don't have a life now."
A message on the fundraiser reads: "Your support could help me access the vital surgery overseas that could save my life — and make a real difference in my day-to-day quality of life while I wait.
"Every donation, kind message, and share truly matters. Whether big or small, your generosity will help me fight for a future where my life isn't ruled by pain and fear. Please help me spread awareness of SMAS and give me a chance to reclaim my health, my independence, and my hope.
"From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with me."
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
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