A woman who had started to get her life back after a major operation is back in a Barcelona hospital for the second time in 12 months.
Melanie Hartshorn was left heartbroken when her symptoms made another devastating return.
She is now 'bedbound and in a neck brace 24/7' again following a series of major setbacks since her first surgery three years ago.
The 30-year-old had successful neurosurgery in Spain in 2017 after years of living her life lying down due to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS).
Melanie went on to recover remarkably, living life seizure free, to the full, and even volunteering in a local school.
Last year she underwent an operation on her knee to deal with an old dislocation.
But awaking from general anaesthetic she realised with horror that her symptoms had begun to return.
The Cramlington graduate, who hit the headlines when she graduated from Newcastle University on a stretcher, needed to fundraise again for a revision surgery in Barcelona six months ago.
All seemed to be going well until just before Christmas when her horrific neurological symptoms returned.
Melanie said: "Since the fusion got broken and had to be extended to T4 six months ago, my spine hasn’t coped and has become unstable below, and it’s loosened at the skull too. So I’m having seizures and bedbound again.
"I’m back in Barcelona now and had two fits on the flight, so I’m staying here and I’m booked for a massive surgery on January 20, to redo the skull and to fuse the remainder of my spine.
"I'm having a terrible time, so many seizures, horrific headaches, and the room spins every time I move.
"Most of the cost of the surgery and hospital stay is being covered but I have to fund the lower spine fusion and accommodation here until I can fly home, which is going to be £20,000.
"So, I’ve opened a new GoFundMe and we are fundraising again, such a nightmare since I was doing so well until my fusion was broken"
She added: "I’ve had some lovely moments over the last year that I’m very grateful for, such as concerts, volunteering in school twice a week and another year of fun and baking with my niece.
"I’ve lost loads of weight and worked really hard on my own to do physio and get as strong as possible, despite being diagnosed with a rare form of congenital muscular dystrophy on top of EDS.
"So hopefully this surgery is third time lucky, fixing my spine and neck once and for all - and allowing me to continue making progress to achieve all my dreams, that I’m still working so hard towards."
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/melaniesmissiontolive?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unknown&utm_campaign=comms_ymr4+MelaniesMissionToLive
