The family of 10-year-old girl who has been diagnosed with the ‘most painful condition’ known to mankind are on a mission to get her help – even though there is no known cure.
Bella Macey's condition was triggered while on holiday in Fiji, when a blister on her foot became infected.
"It's all sharp, it's burning, it's tingly,” the youngster told Nine’s A Current Affair.
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“It's all sorts of different pain I never knew was possible," Bella said.
She was later diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), which sees sufferers persistently experience severe and debilitating pain.
Bella’s condition is so extreme, that she often struggles to even hug her own family.
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"It's the most painful condition known to humankind," her mother Emma Macey, from Melbourne, said.
Even touching water causes pain to Bella, meaning she can’t have a shower or bath.
"I can't put (on) any sheets or anything on,” she said.
“Even with a tissue, you can't touch it with anything, otherwise I will scream."
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Emma added: “We've been taking turns sleeping with her on the couch downstairs because she can't go to her bedroom.
“[…] I just want to give her a big cuddle but I can't because if I cuddle her, then it moves her and that hurts her.”
There is currently no known cure for CRPS, with Bella’s parents saying all doctors have been able to do so far is rule out other potential causes of pain.
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While she takes 18 different drugs to manage her condition, nothing has helped ease the pain.
She was recently accepted into the Spero Clinic in Arkansas, US, which specialises in treating CRPS.
Dr Katinka van der Merwe, who is the world’s leading expert on the condition, said: "It is really, truly an awful condition. It causes pain higher than that of childbirth on the McGill pain scale.”
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She added: "Our treatment process is very extensive. It consists of rehabilitating the central nervous system and removing barriers so that the body can heal from within, starting with the central nervous system.”
Bella is due to travel over to the States with mum Emma, while dad Chris stays at home to look after her six-year-old sister, Olivia.
With fears they can’t afford the treatment, the family have set up an online fundraiser to help ease the load - but they’re willing to do whatever it takes to help Bella.
"There's nothing we won't do," Emma said.
So far, the GoFundMe has raised AUS $208,198 of its $275,000 target.
Jess Hardiman