The plight of Isle of Wight mum of four, Connie Jones, in desperate need of reconstructive surgery, touched the hearts of many Islanders earlier this month.
Many responded quickly to an appeal to raise funds for private surgery after the Isle of Wight CCG refused. However, an anonymous donor has stepped forward and offered to cover the entire cost (£2,500) of the surgery.
The background
Having been through surgery in the QA Hospital Portsmouth last year for a Petersen Hernia, Connie has since spent several months suffering intense pain due to the consequences of what has been described by ‘countless doctors’ as the surgeon stitching Connie up incorrectly.
If this wasn’t bad enough, the family went on to report that the Isle of Wight CCG then refused reconstructive surgery, despite a surgeon claiming an operation to correct the problem would be quick and easy, and Connie’s pain consultant warning that remaining on high strength painkillers was dangerous for her.
GoFundMe Appeal
On 8th February, Connie’s teenage daughter Victoria, launched a GoFundMe appeal to raise £2,500 for private surgery and the donations flooded in.
However, an update was posted at the end of last week asking people to refrain from making any more donations as an anonymous benefactor offered to cover the entire £2,500 needed.
As such, all the individual donations are being refunded.
Connie: “You will never know how humbled I truly feel”
This heartfelt message from Connie was shared on the GoFundMe page a few days ago,
“I want to say a heartfelt thank you to every angel that read my daughter’s story about me and donated for my surgery. You will all never know how humbled I truly feel, it has brought me to tears many times.
“Throughout these painful months, as you can imagine, it has sometimes felt lonely and isolating even with the wonderful support of my family. You all gave me something I had lost, that was hope and suddenly not feeling so invisible to the world.
“Thank you to you all, each of you that donated and shared my special girl’s post, you will have a place in my heart always. All my love, Connie xxx”