45-year-old Marina Jordan Killoran suffers from Systemic Scleroderma, an auto-immune disease for which there currently is no cure. She was informed by doctors that she would die unless she received a stem cell transplant, a procedure not carried out in Ireland at present time.
Problem was, she needed $125,000 (€109,000), not including travel, accommodation or aftercare expenses, so she launched an appeal through a national newspaper.
It paid off, as she has now raised €130,000 for the operation, and she will now be able to travel to Chicago to undergo treatment on June 20.
Marina reached the target funds in seven days.
Euphoric, she said “I am 45 and I want to live my life. I love life. I love my family and friends – and I just want to be given a chance,”
“I know this is my only chance – and this my chance to have a much better lease of life. I just exist – I don’t live.”