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A Preston author has made a plea for life-saving treatment.
Acclaimed crime novelist Christie J Newport says she is facing a battle due to the withdrawal of a vital treatment that once gave her a semblance of normality.
In 2015, with the support of a generous fundraising campaign, Christie travelled to the USA for treatment for her extremely rare and incurable autoimmune disease.
Christie says she will remain forever grateful to those who supported her campaign, which included Blog Preston. This intervention allowed her to begin a new treatment program in the UK, enabling her to achieve her dream of becoming a published author. Christie went on to win a prestigious crime writing prize and actively participated in literary festivals across the UK.
Reflecting on her journey, Christie said: “I have never been healthy in the way that others often take for granted, and I am aware that I never will be. Nonetheless, I managed to experience some good days – enough of them to attain a quality of life that felt liveable.
“Every achievement I reached was the result of immense hard work, dedication, and perseverance. I had to be disciplined, ensuring that whenever I felt even slightly capable, I would sit down and write. Without this determination, I wouldn’t have completed even one book, let alone two.
“Participating in festivals and events was both incredible and exhausting, requiring significant recovery time afterward. Yet, it was all worthwhile. I discovered a supportive community within crime writing that felt like home. I am desperate to reclaim that sense of self and the meaningful life it offered. Physically and psychologically, I know I won’t survive without it.”
Christie’s health began to deteriorate after the cessation of her treatment over a year ago. The symptoms of her chronic illness, which include severe swelling and unbearable pain, have returned with a vengeance, confining her once more to a life of suffering and hospital admissions, many in intensive treatment/care.
“I am living in a nightmare, watching my life’s work slip away,” Christie said.
“My plight is compounded by the reluctance of medical authorities to resume the Infliximab infusions that have previously proven successful. Instead, they propose an alternative treatment, Adalimumab, for which I have no known efficacy and comes with significant risks due to my specific medical complications, including poor absorption of subcutaneous injections.
“Despite the proven history of Infliximab working for me, I am being forced to trial this treatment that might not work, risking my health further.”
The complexities of Christie’s condition are heightened by several yet undiagnosed rare diseases. The Mayo Clinic, with branches in the United States and London, is renowned for its expertise in diagnosing such conditions. Unfortunately, the cost of private care at the Mayo Clinic is prohibitive for Christie and her family.
“I am not asking for a miracle, just the treatment that has been shown to work,” Christie said. “The law states I should be able to advocate for myself, yet I am facing a future where my voice is unheard, and my life is at risk.”
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This story was made possible by you, our readers, and a host of organisations in the city, through our Crowdfund Lancashire appeal, which unlocked support from the Lancashire Culture and Sport Fund provided by Lancashire County Council. You can see all our coverage and, if you know of an arts project or event in the city we should be covering, you can submit it for our event listings and/or send details to [email protected] for us to cover it as a story on the Blog.
