A woman who suffered three years of hell due to a crippling stomach condition says she owes her life to those who fundraised for her to receive the life-saving operation privately.
Mum-of-two Clare McCulloch was diagnosed with diabeti gastroparesis in 2018.
The condition left her unable to eat many solid foods and she relied mainly on protein drinks for nourishment.
Clare, 41, was left disappointed that she was refused the op through the NHS which costs in the region of £20,000 if carried out privately.
However, friends rallied round the Cleland mum, raised the cash and, over the festive period, Clare received her life-changing operation.
“I don’t mind saying that last year I was in a very dark place,” said Clare.
“I was shielding and couldn’t get out of the house. It was hell.
“Now I’m feeling a lot better. My surgeon has said it will be a long road to recovery but I’m taking it one day at a time.
“Previously I was being sick four or five times per day but I’ve only been sick twice since the operation.”
Diabeti gastroparesis prevents the stomach from emptying in the normal way.
It’s thought to be the result of damage to nerves which prevent the stomach muscles from working properly, slowing down the movement of food through it.
Despite being repeatedly admitted to hospital as an in-patient Clare was turned down for an NHS operation to have a gastro pacemaker fitted.
It was then her family and friends stepped in and began fundraising.
Among the fundraising initiatives included a charity climb up Tinto Hill and several online auctions.
Clare said: “I started feeling sick in March 2018. I hadn’t been well for a few days but I just put it down to a sickness bug.
“In the end my husband Robert picked me up, bundled me into the car and took me to hospital.
“I was diagnosed in June of that year.
“But it just kept getting worse; in 2019 I spent nine months in hospital and I had lost six stone in weight.
“I’m really lucky to have so many people looking out for me including my husband, my kids Nadia and Robbie and my friend Wendy Keane who started the fundraising.
“They managed to get all the money together within nine months.
“You don’t realise how many people have been looking out for you.
“I’ve told Wendy that you can’t put a price on that kind of friendship. I owe my life to her and all the people who helped fundraise.”
Wendy was able to visit Clare following her spell of self-isolation following the operation.
She said: “She’s doing really well although the consultant has said it will take up to a year for her to fully recover.
“It was so good to go and see her. She managed to eat a tuna sandwich without being sick which would never have happened when she wasn’t well.
“Mentally she is in much a better place because of the operation and you can’t put a price on that.
“She told me she’s looking forward to having a strawberry daiquiri so I think we’re all looking forward to that!”
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