Painful wait for surgery as fundraising falls short

Jacqui Scott may have to wait until July/August to book an operation with an American surgeon after missing this week's date to have two surgical meshes removed. Photo/File

Jacqui Scott is struggling and "miserable" after failing to raise enough funds for an operation that would turn her life around.

A tentative date to remove two surgical meshes, which have caused "immense pain" over the past seven years, was set for March 5 in America, but could only be booked once the total sum became available.

Last time the Napier woman spoke to Hawke's Bay Today she needed $86,000 in two weeks to pay for the surgery - she still has to come up with $84,000 and now has to wait another six months.

"I'm really miserable, I'm finding it really hard - I missed my date for the surgery and I have not been given another one," she said.

"As soon as I get it out the better for me, I am still in a lot of pain."

She was fitted with the meshes after an attack and rape at her home in 2005, but 12 months later began to notice debilitating pain. The symptoms worsened to include 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, and no one in New Zealand was qualified to extract it.

She had been fighting ACC, which was unable to fund the surgery overseas, but approached the Australasian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to find four New Zealand surgical specialists, with the necessary skills and experience to undertake her operation.

It's a move which has done little to help Ms Scott, who said one name suggested by ACC was that of the implanting surgeon, who initially failed to inform her about the erosion of the mesh.

Local people are rallying around to support her, but she needs to raise more cash.

Bunnings in Napier did a cash collection and bought her a card while Cathy Philips has listed two valuable Chinese urns on TradeMe, that have been donated to Ms Scott, with 50 per cent of the sale price going directly to her.

People can donate at: www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/jacqui. So far more than $53,000 has been raised.