The family of a woman whose cancer was misdiagnosed have reached out to the public, to help them raise funds for a potentially life-saving treatment.
On a JustGiving page (link here) set up for 43-year-old Tina Locke, loved one Sarah Lewis-Jones revealed that she was ‘dreadfully let down by the NHS after having her stomach cancer misdiagnosed as depression and fibromyalgia for more than a year’.
Tina, who is mum to two sons, was suffering for a long time before medics finally made the correct diagnosis. However, once they corrected their mistake, Tina was dealt a horrific blow – she was told that she only has eight weeks to live.
With the NHS ‘refusing to fund the treatment’, Sarah explained that Tina and her family have been left with no choice but to seek potentially life-saving treatment for her, themselves.
They are hoping to send Tina to a clinic in Germany, where she could undertake immunotherapy cancer treatment. As Sarah explains, this mode of treatment ‘helps to boost the body’s natural defences to help it to fight cancer’.
Naturally, this treatment comes at a high cost, and the fundraising page was set up in a bid to raise the £15,000 needed to send Tina for treatment.
Since sharing Tina’s story, generous members of the public have donated almost £10,000 to the fund – meaning they are almost there, but they still have a way to go before they can help Tina out.
On behalf of Tina’s family, Sarah has been sharing updates on her condition as well as messages of gratitude to those kind people who have donated so generously.
“Tina is a truly lovely woman, always so willing to help others, and a devoted wife and amazing mother. She deserves this chance more than anyone and would be the first to help if the shoe were on the other foot,” she wrote.
“Thank you so much to each and every person that has donated so far! If every person who views this page donated £1, we would have £18,000 by this point. £1 makes a massive difference and will be so appreciated.”
We’re wishing Tina the best of the luck with her fundraising, and the journey ahead.
