A Paisley nurse living with a terminal illness at the age of just 23 is trying to raise £50,000 for medical treatment that could add years to her life.
Sarah McCrimmon, from Potterhill, has been given hope of recovery from a rare form of kidney cancer that has blighted her life since she was 13. She has been invited for a clinical trial - but the catch is that she has to pay tens of thousands of pounds for the experimental treatment.
Sarah has set up a fundraiser to help her meet the £50,000 target, which will see her take part in a clinical trial in the USA, with the hope of eradicating the rare form of kidney cancer she has been living with for the past ten years. Sarah works as a nursing auxiliary in a cardiology ward at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Colleague Katrina Gallacher told the Paisley Daily Express what sort of person her friend is. She said: “She’s a good laugh, the life and soul of the party. She’s just such a nice girl and we’re all devastated that this has happened to her.”
Katrina says to the naked eye Sarah doesn’t look like somebody going through such turmoil. She recently had a tumour removed that was pressing onto her arteries and she was quite poorly then, but in general, for the time that she has known her, Katrina says Sarah’s just been “living life to the fullest”.
The brave young woman has been in and out of hospital for the entirety of her teenage years and all of her adult life.
Katrina explained: “She’s had five surgeries, but it keeps on coming back. She’s been a patient at the Beatson cancer hospital for the past ten years.
“They’ve tried everything they possibly can, but she found out a couple of months ago that there are now no other options available for her here and there’s nothing else the NHS can do for her.
“She was put into palliative care, but she’s recently been told that there’s a clinical trial in America that could help prolong her life.”
Sarah was unable to reveal any details about the clinical trial other than its location in the USA as it’s still at trial stage. The actual cost of the treatment is £120,000, but Sarah is only trying to raise £50,000, saying the remaining portion will come from other funding sources.
Katrina told the Paisley Daily Express, that as well as the online fundraiser at https://bit.ly/3NHPg57 other fundraisers will take place to help Sarah reach her goal.
There are plans for a fundraising event at Abercorn Bowling Club on September 10 and raffles and other ideas may develop too. So far, £17,325 had been raised through the online fundraiser.
“We’re all going to do as much fundraising as we can to get her to America,” said Katrina.
Sarah is truly grateful for all the help and support she has had. She told us: “It means the world from me and my family and friends. It’s so overwhelming and kind and I’m grateful for every donation and share.
“It’s a long way to go but I’m hoping and praying we get there and get the treatment.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
