A DESPERATELY-ILL woman faces a race against time to raise £130,000 in less than two months for a life-saving surgery.

Sarah Gearing, 40, of Millview Meadows, Rochford, is living with a rare genetic condition, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which makes her body’s connective tissues collapse.

Ms Gearing has been living in constant pain for the past 20 years. She has gastric and digestion problems, chronic dislocation of joints, and pains and seizures that leave her disorientated.

She said: “I was diagnosed with this condition when I was born, but it didn’t really show until I was in my late teens. My mobility and coordination were affected. When I was 20, I became a full-time wheelchair user.

“Living with this condition has affected all aspects of my life. I had pursued a further education to become a counsellor but because of my health I couldn’t continue it. Right now my brain is dropping out of my skull, crushing my brainstem and spinal cord. The surgery I need involves a total neck fusion and procedures to put my brain back where it belongs and permanently relieve the compression on my spinal cord.”

Ms Gearing has been seeing a EDS specialist at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore. Earlier in the year, her specialist told her she urgently needed spinal surgery.

She spent months pursuing options, and her quest landed her in Spain where she received good and bad news. Two weeks ago, Ms Gearing went to see a neurosurgeon at Teknon Hospital, Barcelona, who is able to perform the surgery to save her life.

Ms Gearing said: “The surgery I need involves a total neck fusion and procedures to put my brain back where it belongs and permanently relieve the compression on my spinal cord. The neurosurgeon said to me if I don’t have the surgery in November it’s unlikely I’ll make it to Christmas. Spain and the US are the only countries in the world that offer this surgery to EDS patients.”

However, the surgery is scheduled for November 9, which means Ms Gearing has less than two months to raise £130,000.

Ms Gearing’s friends have set up a page on Just Giving to support her. So far, it has raised close to £20,000. She said: “I am overwhelmed by the support from everyone, and Rochford Council. I’m really positive about this because I think the trip to Spain two weeks ago was a sign that I’ll be all right. There’s just so many things I want to do, like supporting other EDS patients.”

To help Ms Gearing, head to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/survivalsurgery4sarah.

Ehlers-Danlos Support UK offers a free helpline to patients: 0800 907 8518