Money last hurdle to clear for Jacqui Scott

Jacqui Scott will be going to America for an operation to get surgical mesh removed if she can raise enough money.

After seven long years living in "immense pain," two weeks could make all the difference to Jacqui Scott's life.

The Napier woman needs $86,000 to pay for and secure a "tentative" appointment in America on March 5, needed to remove two surgical meshes which have caused countless health issues.

She was fitted with the mesh after an attack and rape at her home in 2005, but 12 months later began to notice debilitating pain followed by other symptoms including a compromised immune system, bouts of shingles, teeth and hair loss, severe depression and incontinence.

One of the devices causing problems was a Prolift Total Pelvic Floor Repair System, the biggest ever made, which has six "arms" and can grow into bone. She was the only person in New Zealand to have that particular make and nobody here was qualified to extract it.

Looking for answers, she requested her medical records and did some extensive online research. She discovered the implants were on US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) list of medical devices that have caused adverse events.

But they had not come with a warning, nor was she told about the serious complications seen in other patients.

"We are the guinea pigs, they were never tested by the New Zealand Government, the Prolift went in me without FDA approval.

"I want them out of my body, I just want my life back."

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) was unable to fund the surgery overseas; Ms Scott has been fighting the government department and is desperately trying to raise money before her condition worsens.

To bring a surgeon from the USA would cost a lot of money, "has no guarantees" and ACC estimated it would take about a year to organise.

"I'm not getting any better, I'm getting worse, every day I'm getting sicker - I live on morphine on a day-to-day basis."

The corporation was working to identify how best to move Ms Scott's claim forward, a process she said had been "long and drawn out".

"Following an approach to the Australasian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists the names of four New Zealand surgical specialists, with the necessary skills and experience to undertake the operation, have been provided to Jacqui," ACC spokeswoman Stephanie Melville said.

But one name on the list was that of her implanting surgeon, who Ms Scott believed "revictimised" her.

"For years I was told, 'it's all in your head'; 'there are no problems, the mesh hasn't eroded' by my implanting surgeon but when I paid to go to a specialist I was told, 'it has eroded, don't let anyone tell you otherwise'."

If she misses her appointment in a fortnight, the American doctor lined up to operate will not be available again until July.

"I'm not the only mesh victim, there's 400 of us in New Zealand and many more overseas."

Just this week, she met an Australian woman called Julie who had been "an amazing support" for the past year.

Before Tuesday, they pair had only chatted online.

Ms Scott has an online fundraising site, a Facebook page called "Save Jacqui Scott", and Napier jewellery company Bijoux is selling pendants to help raise funds for her.

People can donate at: www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/jacqui