A brave young Westmeath woman is battling a rare illness which has left her unable to walk.
Chloe Greene, 24, from Mullingar, was struck down with a very rare fungal infection of the spinal cord, known as CNS Aspergillosis.
And she has been left without movement in her left leg and unable to walk at present after having surgery to relieve pressure on her spinal cord.
It's thought she may have contracted the bug while recovering from a stroke she suffered shortly after graduating from college in NUI Galway.
Chloe already suffers from ulcerative colitis and her immune system may have been compromised by the medication she was taking.
Her family have revealed how Chloe's dreams of studying a Master's, becoming a teacher and travelling the world have been shattered by the devastating diagnosis.
On a GoFundMe page set up to cover treatment costs, her sister said: "She's had numerous surgeries, the most recent one five weeks ago has left her with no movement in her left leg, unable to walk.
"This infection has eluded the doctors for quite a while and they are now sending her overseas to seek other experts advice and treatment options."
Her family are now looking to treatment options in the UK and the US and Chloe's mum Catherine will be travelling with her wherever she goes.
In the short term, the donations will be used for extra costs incurred while going overseas.
In the long term, funds raised will go towards the rehabilitation that Chloe will need after recovering from this.
This includes physiotherapy, medication and any other unforeseen expenses while she is recovering from her many surgeries.
Her sister added: "Chloe is a kind, generous and loving girl, as anyone who has met her knows.
"She is the first to reach out and help others in their time of need, even when she was sick herself.
"Chloe has shown huge amounts of strength and positivity throughout this long illness. She is a warrior, but now she needs your help in this battle."
So far the campaign has raised €34,688 out of a goal of €100,000.
More information can be found at https://ie.gofundme.com/f/chloegreene.
