Latest news with #SuperiorMesentericArterySyndrome
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Scots woman makes desperate bid to get US treatment after life 'ripped away'
Becca Finlay who was diagnosed with Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS) says her life has been "ripped away". A young Scots woman suffering from a devastating condition has launched a desperate bid for a life-changing US treatment after having her "life ripped away". Becca Finlay, from Gilmerton in Edinburgh, 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 feeding tube, 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. "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. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "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."
Edinburgh Live
23-06-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh woman's desperate bid to get treatment in the US after life 'ripped away'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info 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. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community her eand get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "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.
