A Melton mum is struggling with a debilitating illness following the birth of her third child, and is calling on the community for support.
After having her first baby in 2017, Shanelle Cauchi developed a range of unusual symptoms – headaches, tachycardia, numbness and tingling, neck pain, shortness of breath and even seizures.
What was originally diagnosed as POTS was actually a Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak (CBF), which occurs when a hole in the brain’s dura matter allows the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain to leak.
Ms Cauchi wasn’t diagnosed with CSF until after the birth of her third child in May, which caused the hole to tear.
The illness, exacerbated by her most recent birth, has left her bed-ridden unable to work or look after her young family due to a range of neurological symptoms.
Ms Cauchi, who currently has family helping look after her kids, is calling on the community for financial support to help afford medical treatment and specialist appointments while she is unable to work.
Ms Cauchi said she’s hoping to get treatment so she can be a mum to her kids again.
“The symptoms affect me neurologically so my brain doesn’t work the way it should, meaning I forget things, it affects my vision, my memory, causes me debilitating pain, fatigue, numbness, tingling and dizziness,” she said.
“Any donation big or small would make a world of difference in my life, meaning I’m one step closer to treatment and one step closer to getting back to living life beyond my bed.
“My kids would get their mum back. I’d get to live life without pain. I’d get to live again.”
