This is Nancy. Mine and my sisters long lost best friend, Nancy. Our mothers were best friends too, and so we spent many years living in each others pockets. Nancy was always the light in the room. Forever singing and dancing. Happy-go-lucky Nance.

Someway or another through the course of the years, and a few tragic events, we lost contact with Nancy when we were in our late teens.

One decade later Nancy contacted us through social media. We were overjoyed to be together again with our dear family friend. We caught up with all the events of the years. We shared stories and it was like a day hadn't passed. We laughed like never before, and cried for the things we had missed out on in each others lives. We laughed and cried until we had shed the stories of our lives. We began meeting regularly. Nancy was as entertaining as ever. But Nancy's almond eyes told a different story.

It didn't take long for Nancy to confide in us. It became suddenly very apparent to us  that our happy-go-lucky Nancy wasn't happy at all. After an evening out one night, Nancy broke down and told us she was having suicidal thoughts. The worst part is she was planning to carry it out after her brothers wedding, this summer.  She cried uncontrollably and told us she wanted to live. But a health condition was making life utterly unbearable. 

Nancy has been suffering with a condition called Tinnitus.  Tinnitus is the sensation of noises in the head and/or ears which have no external source. Common cases of the condition are described as a high pitched ringing or whistling in the ears. Tinnitus is not a rare condition. Around 30% of people will experience it temporarily during their life.

 However, Nancy's experience is unfortunately within the more extreme and rarer cases with incessant screeching and pressure noises. Her condition is at its worst during quite times and especially night. She describes it as living inside a pressure cooker that is at its peak constantly.  Luckily her mother - our Aunt Valerie, lives with her and is doing everything she can in the evenings to try to soothe Nancy. She is battling to keep her daughter from suicidal ideas most nights, and they have spent many hours in A&E to keep her safe.  It's very scary for everyone especially Nance. 

After being referred to ENT centre by her GP the doctors have all said the same thing. That she has permanent Tinnitus and that she will have to live with it.  There are habituation treatments that can help but these are not available on the NHS. 

We were able to find a specialist treatment clinic/audiologist in London. They confirmed through various audio testing that Nancy's condition is one of the worst cases they have seen.

They have offered habituation treatment to help her brain to normalise the sounds and recondition her perception to it.  The treatment is called  Hyperacusis Desensitisation Therapy and costs £2,600

For people reading this who know Nancy, you'll know that Nancy is a very happy, caring, and selfless person.  Strong and happy Nancy has become a shadow of her self. She doesn't feel she can carry on living with this devastating and nightmarish condition.

We don't expect any large donations but anything you can afford would be greatly appreciated.

We will keep you posted through any updates here and on our various social media profiles.

Thank you so much.