A Ukrainian woman living in Wells, Somerset, has touched hearts with her urgent fundraising campaign to fund a life-saving cancer operation for her mother.
Siiara Nakhmetova is raising money for her mum, Fatima, whose ovarian cancer has reached a critical stage after nearly 15 years of treatment. The family’s latest hope lies in a complex operation in Turkey, which is Fatima’s only chance to extend her life.
To date, Siiara’s GoFundMe page has raised over £6,000, buoyed by generous donations—some as high as £1,000—but she still needs to raise £20,000 to cover the cost of the surgery and continued care.
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The family has already spent thousands on treatments, surgeries, chemotherapy, scans, and international travel. Now, they are asking for help to afford this high-risk but potentially life-extending procedure.
Siiara shared heartfelt words about her mother: “My mum is the heart of our family. She is the kindest, most empathetic, and selfless person you could ever meet. Even while battling illness, she has always been there to support others.”
“She finds joy in simple things and stays strong for us every day despite the pain," Siiara added. “Asking for help is incredibly hard, but I will do everything to save her and give her more time with us. She deserves every chance to keep fighting.”
The family, originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine, has privately funded Fatima’s care for years. Recent scans revealed extensive tumor growth causing severe pain and organ compression. With no curative options available in the UK, months of consultations and over £15,000 later, they found a surgeon in Turkey willing to perform a critical debulking surgery.
The eight-hour procedure took place recently, with doctors reporting it went well. Fatima is now under close medical observation.
Despite having already paid $36,000 through savings and an emergency loan, the family still requires additional funds for ongoing care.
Siiara’s sibling, Arzu, a taxi driver in Shepton Mallet, has also publicly appealed for support.
Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference. Siiara thanks everyone for their kindness and support during this challenging time.