3000 Tenners – ‘It is health that is real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver.’-Mahatma Ghandi

How many times in the week do you buy a coffee and a muffin, a wedge of your favourite cheese or a couple of fashion magazines? A flutter on the nags perhaps or a couple of scratch cards. How many times does change fall out of your purse and it remains at the bottom of your handbag until you clean it out? Once a week maybe or more?

How many times have you done as I do; for the sake of convenience, park in the most expensive car park, paying above the odds just so you don’t have to trudge around in the rain and the cold laden down with bags? How much money did you spend today on something you liked rather than something you needed?

The point I’m trying to make here, is we all spend money on stuff that we don’t need or want. Not a thing wrong with that you might add, we are all entitled to a little treat now and again, and right you would be.  But imagine for a second that you, your child, your parent or your best friend was wholly dependent on the goodwill of another to pay for antibiotics and  treatment.Treatment to cure an infection and give them back a chance of a life that we take for granted. I’m sure the image that has seeped into your mind is one of third world countries and a health care system far inferior to Ireland. I’m not talking about a person in a third world country. I’m talking about Denise.Denise is from Rathfarnham in Dublin.

I met Denise yesterday. Denise and I were guests on The Art of Living Show, a radio show presented by the wonderful Victoria Mary Clarke. Denise was on the show to speak about her fund it campaign; a plea for three thousand people to sponsor her a tenner.

I could tell by her demeanour as she walked into the room, she was feeling shy and self-conscious. Her tiny arms were wrapped around her little frame as though she were either hugging herself or holding herself up. Then she smiled, and her whole presence lifted to that of a person three feet taller than this little slip of a thing. She took her seat and in a soft Dublin accent with a trace of her years in Canada, she told us her story.

Denise has Lyme Disease. She contracted the infection from a Tick bite when she lived in Canada. She was born with digestive and immune system problems; in its most simple form, her body can’t absorb nutrients in the same way we can. Her immune system is depressed, and because of this history, Lyme Disease wasn’t diagnosed or picked up on until recently. What started out as flu-like symptoms progressed to heart palpitations, constant vomiting,palsy, seizures, pain and indescribable fatigue. This has been her constant companion for eight years. She can’t work, she lives at home with her parents, and her only hope of treatment is in Seattle. A three month intensive care treatment.The last chance saloon. It wont cure her, but it will give her a new lease of life, extending beyond her couch and having enough energy to spend time with her friends for more that a half hour once a week. She has spent every penny she has on treatment to date. Ireland does not recognise Chronic Lyme disease as a long-term illness, some Doctors have questioned its existence, more have just shook their heads, told her ‘no one can be that sick’, and have tried to prescribe anti depressant medication.

Denise spoke eloquently and in a matter of fact way about her battle with the disease and the apathy of a health care system that has failed her. The only time during the interview I sensed real discomfort was when the subject of donation was broached, which to me was so very sad. Denise needs 30 thousand Euro to go for this treatment. It involves three months in Seattle at an intensive care unit to receive the treatment she needs, and moreover deserves.

So I’m asking on her behalf. I am asking you to donate a tenner or more to her fund. It’s the price of a couple of treats that you can live without just for a day. I would also ask you to share her story in any way you can, through Facebook, Twitter, rooftops, everywhere. All she needs is 3000 kindhearted people to give her a chance. She is due to go at the end of January 2015, and time is running out.

The link is http://www.gofundme.com/3000tenners   You can find her on Twitter @irishmcginger   Please go on to her page, read her story and donate.

‘He who has health has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.’- Thomas Carlyle

Much love and thanks to you all

Merry Christmas

Cat x