A MOTHER whose worst nightmare came true when she heard her terminally ill 20-year-old daughter agree to a DNR when her poorly heart fails, has launched a “bucket list” fundraising campaign.
Samantha MacVicar has launched the fundraising appeal to help her daughter Caitlin tick her bucket list – which includes a family cruise, as she is too poorly to fly.
Already more than £6,000, but with the cost of cruises being expensive, the family is aiming to raise £10,000 for the “brave, strong, young lady” from Warrington.
Her mother Samantha, who launched the fundraising page earlier this month, said: “Caitlin’s biggest wish is to be able to go abroad on holiday. Sadly she is unable to fly due to the complexity of her heart and lung condition and the cabin pressures. The only option we have is to take her by cruise which will prove expensive with the added expense of holiday insurance.
“Caitlin was born with a severe heart condition called aorta stenosis and regurgitation of the mitral valve and leaky valves, also a hypoplastic left lung leaving her with only one lung working and needing oxygen and bi-pap at night.
Samantha added: “Caitlin went through life-saving surgery at 3 and 6 weeks old and again age 6-years-old, which did stablise the aorta for some time. We have now been told that the aorta has again narrowed and the doctors have upgraded the stages to severe from mild and moderate but this time it’s become inoperable, leaving the doctors to make the heartbreaking decision to withdraw treatment and to start palliative care treatment being told the longest you can live with severe aorta stenosis is 1-3 years.
“At the age of 10 Caitlin was also diagnosed severe klipple-file syndrome, severe scoliosis kyphoscoliosis and a combination of health issues that had never been seen before in our country rendering her unique.
“Caitlin was unable to undergo any surgery to correct her spine due to her heart conditions and lives in constant pain and restricted mobility.
“The hardest thing a parent had to do was listen to their daughter agree to a DNR, which she was sent home with only a few days ago.
“Caitlin is a very strong, brave young lady and an inspiration to others. She has a smile that lights up the room and an infectious laugh with a wicked sense of humour that everyone loves. She has and still remain’s to put up one almighty fight, and battles against all odd’s, baffling the medical team along the way.
“Now free of the medical team, that had been restricting what she could do for most of her life, she now would like to do some of the fun things she couldn’t do.
“We are hoping as a family that we can achieve at least this one last wish with the help and support of others to complete some of her bucket list before her health deteriorates anymore and see her continuing to smile.
“Thankyou for all your support, we really do appreciate it ❤”
Other items on Caitlin’s bucket list include: Spa day, photoshoot, pull a pint behide a bar, visit Edinburgh Castle, go on the London Eye, spend a day at the golden retriever sanctuary, spend a day with a horse, afternoon tea with her nan’s, glamping or camping with her aunties and finally to visit Coronation Street – she is mad on Soaps!
To make a donation visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/caitlins-wishes
