On September 13, 2007, 59-year-old Sarah Ambrose underwent a lumbar disc herniation surgery in Spain. Unfortunately, the surgery led to a serious medical accident when the surgeon accidentally cut her dura mater—the protective connective tissue layer around her brain and spinal cord. From that moment on, her life would be marked by a series of nightmare scenarios.
Post-Surgery Nightmare
After returning home to rest following her surgery, Sarah immediately experienced a bad reaction. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)—the transparent fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord—began leaking, soaking through her mattress. The leakage of cerebrospinal fluid within the body typically leads to severe health issues, including neck and shoulder pain, vision abnormalities, hearing loss, dizziness, nausea, and even meningitis. Sarah was rushed back to the hospital for emergency treatment.
However, the attempt to fix the issue worsened the situation. Doctors tried to repair the 5-centimeter wound on her spine, but the incision ultimately tore to 8 centimeters, leaving her hospitalized for another three months in Spain. During this time, she suffered from three bouts of meningitis. Despite the ongoing cerebrospinal fluid issue, her condition worsened, and she endured excruciating headaches. Still, the hospital discharged her, claiming that her wounds “seemed to heal.”
A Life of Suffering and Struggles
At this point, Sarah could no longer care for herself and was forced to return to London in 2008, where her partner, David, took over her full care. Over the following five years, Sarah consulted approximately 11 neurosurgeons. To stop the cerebrospinal fluid from leaking, doctors at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery implanted a plastic shunt in her skull to drain the excess fluid. Unfortunately, the pressure in her body was too high, causing the shunt to rupture.
Doctors attempted to repair the shunt twice, but Sarah’s mobility problems led to repeated falls, further damaging the device. As a result, the medical team was left with few options. To alleviate her pain, doctors tried a “glue patch surgery,” using epidural fibrin glue to seal the cerebrospinal fluid leak, but this too failed three times.
More Failed Attempts and Further Deterioration
Sarah sought help from the Imperial Healthcare Trust, and a new doctor tried again to repair the shunt. Unfortunately, it broke once more. At this point, Sarah’s health was deteriorating rapidly. Her lower back became swollen and relaxed, and her bones began to “disintegrate” due to the long-term pressure from the cerebrospinal fluid.
The neurosurgical team devised a new surgical plan to cut away the damaged part of her spine and perform dural reduction surgery. The goal was to significantly reduce the cerebrospinal fluid volume and pressure in her lumbar region and prevent further leakage by wrapping the spine in multiple layers. They also planned to implant new artificial bone into her spine and replace the broken shunt inside her skull. Sarah thought this would be her opportunity for relief, but the hospital canceled the plan three and a half years ago due to financial constraints, essentially abandoning her.
18 Years of Agony
Now, 18 years after the accident, Sarah’s issues are far from resolved. Her life has become unbearable. She cannot live without a walker, and her daily movements are limited to her bedroom and bathroom. Even going to the bathroom feels like a battle. She endures pain 24 hours a day, from her scalp to her toes, and says every inch of her body is wracked with agony.
“Cerebrospinal fluid constantly leaks from my nose and eyes, flowing into my ears and throat. If I lie flat, I suffocate,” Sarah explains. “If I raise the angle of my electric bed, the intracranial fluid floods into my face and fills my throat, choking me. It’s happened countless times! When I sit up quickly, the intracranial pressure drops dramatically…”
Sarah has fainted and fallen multiple times, her face covered in bruises. Her cervical discs are ruptured, her brain has sunken due to low intracranial pressure, and her hearing and vision are almost gone. Yet no one in the UK is willing to help her.
In addition, she suffers from severe gastrointestinal and bladder dysfunction, and can only consume liquid food. One medical accident has permanently altered the trajectory of her life.
A Ray of Hope
Fortunately, Sarah has not given up hope. She continues to raise her voice and seek help. Her biggest wish now is to raise enough money to travel to the United States for treatment. She hopes that, this time, she will be able to end 18 years of torment.
May her suffering finally come to an end.
