A NURSE in desperate need of vital treatment hard to come by on the NHS has said it would be a “dream come true” to have the strength to do more with her children.

Nicola Shergold, 54, suffers from Relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis, having been given the devastating diagnosis by doctors back in 2017.

On a daily basis she now battles everything from muscular weakness, spasms and severe lethargy to vision and speech difficulties and problems swallowing.

The mother-of-three, who has lived in Colchester for 21 years, has also been forced into early retirement, bringing an end to her 32-year-long nursing career with the NHS.

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She is now embarking on an ambitious fundraising mission with the hope of raising £46,000 to help pay for specialist private treatment.

So far the campaign, launched earlier this month, has generated just shy of £1,500 – a modest figure but one that has both excited and surprised Nicola, nonetheless.  

She said: “I have been completely blown away by the kindness and sheer generosity of complete strangers who have donated already - I’m absolutely astounded.

“I have also had gifts for raffles from some larger companies and my local Highwoods Slimming World group run by Linda Duncan have been amazing.

“My dream would be to organise a fundraising ball. It would be amazing if there was anyone out there who could help or advise me - I would be so grateful.

“The one thing I really hope though is that my page will encourage others in my situation to speak out, research what is out there, and go for it.”

Should Nicola manage to raise the windfall she is looking for, she will head to Mexico where she will undergo a haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The intense chemotherapy treatment would “reset” Nicola’s immune system by removing it all together before regrowing it.

“I honestly do not know if I will reach my target or reach it before I decline further, but what I do know is that I’m going to give it my all,” added a defiant Nicola.

“My hopes are to be able to raise the money to give me my life back - to stop me living in fear of becoming completely wheelchair bound or bed ridden.

“I’m extremely lucky to have three loving boys, a loving partner who is my rock and an amazing family.

“To have the strength and energy to be able to do things with them without constantly bailing out due to my health, would be my dream come true.

“We only get one shot at this life and I still have so much living to do.”

To donate and to follow Nicola’s journey visit  tinyurl.com/bdfhkbww.