'˜Unfixable' Dronfield woman winning her fight for life in American hospital

Vanessa Boyd, aged 28, claims her life-threatening illness was misdiagnosed by the NHS for 12 years – with doctors saying the symptoms were all in her head.

But Vanessa was actually suffering with Lyme Disease, a tick-borne illness which is fatal if left untreated.

After getting the condition diagnosed independently, Vanessa flew to a hospital in Washington DC and is now in the fifth month of a nine month intensive intravenous antibiotic therapy.

Family and friends of Vanessa have raised £22,000 to fund the treatment so far – which will cost at least £100,000 – but are still urging people to donate.

Vanessa said: “The treatment is intense and is not an easy ride, but the specialists are pleased with my response and say they can’t see any reason why I won’t get better. I have good days and bad days. However, I feel a world away from last summer when all the specialists in the UK had written me off as ‘unfixable’.

“For the first time I am feeling positive about the possibility of regaining a quality of life I thought was lost forever. ”

As May is Lyme awareness month, Vanessa’s sister Maria Robinson, is hosting an event at The Showroom, in Sheffield, on May 2 where two award winning documentaries will be shown.

It will be the first time the films – Under our Skin and the sequel Emergence, which feature the doctor who is currently treating Vanessa – will have been screened in the UK.

Tickets cost £15 and can be purchased from The Showroom on 0114 275 7727 or at The Star office, in York Street, city centre.