A WOMAN left bedbound by a debilitating illness is pinning her hopes of recovery on a doctor thousands of miles away in America.

Sarah Jackson, who is 29-years-old, only leaves her parents’ home in Eight Ash Green for medical appointments.

A severe seizure in July left her with brain damage, extreme light sensitivity named photophobia and Nystagmus, a condition causing constant and uncontrolled eye movements.

Despite a British neurologist acknowledging this was caused by her chronic Lyme disease, medics in the UK are at a loss at to how to help her.

But the light at the end of the bleak tunnel is a £40,000 campaign for intensive treatment with an expert in Washington DC.

Sarah said: “I’ve had no help whatsoever from the NHS. It’s almost like they don’t believe it because I didn’t have the typical rash, which is the main symptom of Lyme, and I had my testing done in the US.

“NHS testing for Lyme is so unreliable, the results often come back negative.

“Unfortunately, how debilitating and serious Lyme is, just isn’t understood. It’s a life-threatening illness.”

Gazette:

Hospital visits have been frequent over the past four years 

Sarah’s diagnosis came about in 2014 via a US testing centre, after first being told by a private doctor in London she had Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

This means her heart rate is sporadically thrown between low and high rhythmic beats, when she stands.

It was POTS, as well as unusual pain in her legs, vertigo and extreme fatigue, which stopped her from working as a hairdresser in Australia, in 2013.

Once back in the UK, her own online research informed her POTS is caused by something else.

“Lyme was one of them and I had every symptom on the list,” she said.

“It’s been stressful and upsetting doing it by myself. You should be able to trust your doctors.”

Sarah’s dad John, 57, has spent about £25,000 on various tests and treatments, including frequent trips to America. He works seven days a week as a builder.

Mum Julie, 52, helps care for Sarah, but her own health means she is unable to work.

Deciding to fundraise for Sarah to have a year’s worth of intravenous treatment abroad has been difficult.

She said: “It’s not nice to admit we’re struggling, but we decided we have to try everything because we can’t cope.

“I’ve always been fiercely independent and have never been someone to ask for help, but I’m terrified, lonely and despairing of what my future might look like if I don’t reach the USA.”

To support Sarah and read her full story, click here.