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Time is of the essence for Sydney woman Pauline Talty. Pauline who suffers from terminal short bowel syndrome has just one hope: urgent small bowel transplant surgery in the US.
After the Australian Government made an undertaking to her Federal MP, Alex Hawke’s Office two days ago to have Pauline’s application assessed and signed off prior to Christmas for the multi-million dollar surgery, she is now still waiting on the Federal Government to sign off on her departure while she is still well enough.
In desperation, she is now appealing directly to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to give her the ultimate Christmas present: the departure sign off so she can go to the US for a second chance at life whilst she is still well enough to travel.
36-year old Pauline has end-stage bowel failure and due to an inability to eat or drink for the last ten months has one last chance at life. It’s called a small bowel transplant and she must travel to the US to have it – and get the Australian Government to sign off on her departure ASAP.
Pauline Talty has been in and out of hospital for the last 34 years, after being diagnosed with cancer at the age of two. Now some 34 years later, Pauline now lives with Short Bowel Syndrome as a direct result of her childhood cancer treatment. “At the moment, home for me is the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australia,” said Pauline.
“I am artificially fed through my heart because I am not able to eat or drink food. Unfortunately I cannot survive long on artificial feeding because it is destroying my liver and scar tissue is strangling my bowel.”
Her only hope now lies with rare small bowel transplant surgery which can be performed in the US.
“The Australian Government has had my application since September, with a maximum agreed sign-off time of 6-8 weeks, which they have well gone over. I require them to fund the multi- million dollar cost of the operation, but now I just need the Federal Government to sign off on my departure,” said Pauline.
“The Government Office I’m dealing with say they go on leave from Christmas Eve till a week after New Years, which is great for them, but what reprieve do I get? I have been plagued with infection after infection, but now I am finally well enough to travel so I need the go-ahead to fly to the US for my surgery now! Time is running out, and if I get another infection again, that could blow my chances of transplant forever and jeopardise my only hope for life.”
Pauline also needs to raise an additional $60,000 to fund living costs in the US whilst she awaits a transplant – these expenses are not covered by the Government. As a result, an online fundraising drive has begun for Pauline at www.paulinetalty.com.