A WOMAN who underwent life-changing surgery thanks to £130,000 in fundraising was rushed to hospital just days before Christmas for an emergency procedure.

In September 2017, Sarah Gearing was told she wouldn’t live until Christmas of that year.

She has a rare type genetic condition, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which affects her connective tissues. As a result, her brain was slipping out of place and there was a huge risk her skull would dislocate from her spinal cord.

Sarah happily admits she owes her life to kind donors and friends who fundraised £130,000 in just six weeks for her life-saving spinal fusion surgery.

Sarah’s extensive spinal fusion surgery took place in November 2017 with a specialist neurosurgeon in Barcelona.

It was always going to be a two-stage process, with Sarah planning to return to Barcelona once she was able to raise the additional £70,000 for the final part of the surgery.

However Sarah, from Rochford, got shocking news last month, just before Christmas, which meant she had to rush back to Barcelona to have the final part of her fusion on January 3.

She said: “Following scans to check on my progress one-year post surgery I was told just before Christmas that the bone growth around the hardware in my neck was insufficient.

“Added to the fact that I had some of my bone graft removed previously due to infection this meant I needed further stabilisation as a matter of urgency. I have been joking with my friends that I literally had a screw loose - two actually! - but in reality it was so serious as any sudden movement could have resulted in me becoming quadriplegic.”

With no time to fundraise, an emergency loan has been taken out to cover the £70,000 cost of the surgery, which is not available in the UK and required Sarah to go to Teknon Hospital, in Barcelona, as a private patient.

Following the risky and intense ten-hour operation, Sarah is recovering well.

Her surgeons are pleased with the results; her neck has now been stabilised and they have enabled her to have her head in a more upright position by removing a wedge of bone.

Sarah’s friends and family are continuing to fundraise in the hope that all those who wish her well will be able to show their support by donating. For more information search SurvivalSurgery4Sarah on Facebook.

All donations to Sarah’s crowdfunding campaign will be very gratefully received via

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/survivalsurgery4sarah.