A seriously ill 21-year-old woman from Camborne is asking for donations towards an operation in September that will help change and even save her life.

Skye Wheeler was just 14 when she came home from a dance class with the start of a headache. The pain got worse and worse until it became so bad that she was "rocking in agony."

Other symptoms followed and, no longer able to climb stairs, she ended up bed-bound for 18 months.

Skye’s illness had been triggered by a parasite that had burrowed into her eye. The condition, known as Acanthamoeba Keratitis, is a rare eye infection that can cause blindness. Further medical problems followed, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), which causes chronic fatigue, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which causes problems with blood flow and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disorder.

Falmouth Packet:

Skye Wheeler from Camborne is fundraising for a life-changing operation

“My body does not make enough collagen and that has resulted in the ligaments in my neck and spine becoming loose and unable to spring back like an elastic band,” said Skye.

“This has led to them not being able to support and protect my brainstem and spinal cord. As a result, the weight of my head is slowly sinking onto my neck, compressing my brainstem.”

Skye needs a private operation in September to make her head, neck and spinal junction stable. Without it, her symptoms will worsen to the point where she may become paralysed or die.

“Surgery is the only proven treatment for advanced cases like mine and should stop the neurological compression and damage,” says Skye, a qualified pharmacy technician. “The operation and associated medical costs come to £40,000 so I’ve started a JustGiving page in the hope that enough money can be raised for me to go ahead. It really will change my life.”

So far 258 people have donated just over £6,000 towards the £40,000. For more information and to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/skye-wheeler-1