Girl, 14, can't stomach solid food because of conditions which put crippling ...

A girl whose internal organs and blood vessels are pressing dangerously hard on one another is trying to raise £50,000 for lifesaving surgery.

Grace Jackson-Matthew, 14, has four conditions which mean eating is too painful for her and she hasn't be able to stomach a full meal since September.

For years she was told her pain was caused by a mental illness but, now diagnosed, her parents have found a surgery which could help her.

But the costly operation isn't available in the UK, the family say, so they must raise the huge sum to take their daughter to Europe in the hope of a cure.

Grace Jackson-Matthew has been diagnosed with median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS), May-Thurner syndrome and Nutcracker syndrome

Grace Jackson-Matthew has been diagnosed with median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS), May-Thurner syndrome and Nutcracker syndrome

'Her quality of life is zero,' said her mother, Joanna, 45. 'She had to leave school a year ago, she's lost contact with friends.

'It's affected her sisters and the family too – because I need to be with her I'm effectively housebound and up in the night with her.'

Grace, from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, was this year diagnosed with four illnesses: median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS), May-Thurner syndrome and Nutcracker syndrome.

MALS is caused by a ligament pressing on an artery which supplies blood to the stomach, liver and nerves in the abdomen.

SAMS can lead to blocked intestines because part of the small intestine is squashed between two arteries.

May-Thurner syndrome is a condition in which the iliac vein, which runs through the groin into the leg, is compressed and cases pain and swelling.

And renal nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is when arteries put pressure on a vein coming out of a kidney.

Grace had to stop going to school last year because she became so unwell, which her mother said has had a bad effect on her social life

Grace had to stop going to school last year because she became so unwell, which her mother said has had a bad effect on her social life

Grace has various illnesses which put crippling pressure on her intestines and blood vessels and leave her in so much pain when she eats she has to stick to yoghurts and ice lollies

Grace has various illnesses which put crippling pressure on her intestines and blood vessels and leave her in so much pain when she eats she has to stick to yoghurts and ice lollies

Grace (pictured right, beside her sisters Nina, 10, left, and Maria, 11) has had to stop going to school because she is in so much pain

Grace (pictured right, beside her sisters Nina, 10, left, and Maria, 11) has had to stop going to school because she is in so much pain

The combination of Grace's illnesses – which her family call compressions – leaves her in constant pain and unable to eat properly or walk without crutches.

She is mostly

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