Ellie is 15 years old and had to leave her Midsomer Norton school permanently in December 2019 due to severe social anxiety and panic attacks.

Ellie has had on and off mental health problems since she was 10 years old, including general anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts, social anxiety and depression. She was put on an antidepressant as a last result, but overnight symptoms developed such as severe motor and verbal tics, severe rage, pressure in her head.

It was later thought Ellie had Paediatric Auto-immune Neuropsychiatric Disorder (PANDAS) associated with Streptococcal and she was put on a course of antibiotics but the symptoms did not change. Ellie was sent for an MRI, various blood tests, and an EEG but the tests only exhibited a few out of range markers in her blood but nothing they could diagnose.

Over 18 months Ellie suffered with pains in different areas of her body especially her legs, a running low-grade fever, a fast heart rate, fatigue, severe nausea, constant swollen lymph nodes, and many other ailments.

Further symptoms developed over time such as aggression and separation anxiety and she hasn't been able to leave her home in over 4 months, she also cannot be left unattended due to her tics which can make her harm herself and others.

Ellie's Mum stumbled across a PANS PANDAS UK Support Group page on Facebook and with the recommendation of other parents on the site, Ellie underwent a private consultation and blood tests at The Children's e-Hospital where they specialise in PANDAS. However, when test results came back they showed nothing. Her mother then found out that PANS (Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) was also something which causes the same brain issues but it can be caused by disease, mineral and nutrition problems, food intolerances, and many other issues.

After being told it was most likely PANS, Ellie went to a functional practitioner who ran a number of tests not covered by the NHS. When the results came back Ellie's parents were alarmed to find out how many problems existed. Most of her vitamins and minerals were very low while some levels were high. Some of the high levels explained a lot of her physical and mental problems. A few factors indicated food intolerances and Lyme's disease. Ellie's paediatrician was informed of the results but couldn't act on them as they were not NHS administered tests. A private food intolerance test was performed and the results revealed 17 different food intolerances, including normal everyday items such as, milk, egg, wheat, gluten, rice and much more.

Ellie also tested positive for chronic Lyme's disease and Bartonella. She also has chronic immune suppression which also blocks out antibodies and means she is susceptible to illness.

Ellie is about to start treatment with a clinic in Cheddar. There is also the option of private infectious disease clinics in Poland and Ireland that have the capability to deal with these diseases through intense therapy, but they have long waiting lists, and the pandemic makes travel difficult plus Ellie is too unwell to travel at this time.

Funds need to be raised as quickly as possible as Ellie's Mum has reached the extent of her paid sick-leave, and her father is on 80% of salary due to furlough. Their savings have dwindled due to the numerous tests which have amounted to approx. £3500 and treatment for Lyme's disease and Bartonella can take anywhere up to a year or two and costs can spiral. They have hit a wall and are frustrated that their daughter needs healing but without funds she can't have it.

In her mother's words: "We are desperate to help our daughter and she is yearning for a normal life. She just desperately wants to be independent again.

This illness has disabled her and she is unable to do anything herself mainly due to her severe and constant tics, which obviously cause a lot of distress. She just feels lonely and lost. If she can get treatment eventually, all her neurological, psychiatric and physical symptoms will subside and she can go back to being an independent and happy teenager.

I can no longer work as Ellie needs to be accompanied at all times and can't even sleep alone. Ellie wants to go to college but her illness is preventing her and this will impact her further mentally as she is already so isolated and has no life."

Ellie has suffered agonising ordeals and upon hearing her story The Rotary Club of Midsomer Norton & Radstock made a £500 contribution. As we are unable to host public fundraising events at this time, please communally help by donating to Ellie's fund by clicking HERE: the Go Fund site

Rotary was founded on fellowship and gives one the opportunity to serve, the chance to collectively help others and develop better local and international communities; and is richly rewarding. For more information, please visit www.rotarynr.org.uk