Kirsty had to have an emergency life-saving operation to remove a brain tumour a month before Covid hit in February 2020.
The operation left her with significant balance and coordination issues along with complex eye issues including double vision and facial palsy. In the last three years, she has been involved in the battle of her life to get back to as normal a life as possible, a life we all take for granted.
“In terms of my facial palsy, as a family we were never given any advice whatsoever on what to do.
“My parents and older brother have done all the research themselves and unfortunately, I think we were too late with my first operation (July 2021) as it seems I perhaps missed the optimum time to have the surgery. If I had only been given a leaflet or advice on what to do if my face didn’t heal when I left hospital.
“It was after contacting FPUK, that we were alerted to timescales and set the ball rolling. There were hold-ups between NHS Trusts and surgeons just not knowing what operation we meant when we used the term facial reanimation.
“So, a year later in 2022 when it was obvious the surgery didn’t work, we contacted a London surgeon and are in the process of trying to get our home NHS trust in Scotland to agree for me to be seen in London.
“This has been complicated. After paying to see this surgeon on a zoom call (Sept 2022) we were promised to be referred to his team. After five months of waiting we discovered that we weren’t in the system and are now trying to sort this issue out.
“I would like to have more surgery to give me some movement in my face. The London surgeon offers a less intrusive option and also they have a specialised FP unit with psychologists and therapists to work with the patients. This doesn’t exist in Scotland.
“I feel that people don’t acknowledge me anymore, I can’t smile at them so I obviously look different. I also have to cover one eye because of my double vision. I am fed up with people just talking to my parents and I feel invisible and unheard. This is only a small part of my issue but I desperately need to get it sorted and it makes me feel very down when I look in the mirror.”
Disclaimer: Please note that views expressed are person’s own and should not be considered a recommendation of particular medical treatments, therapies or surgeries. We would always advise you seek advice from a health professional with experience in facial palsy who can assess your individual needs.