Francine Black, Staff Reporter

After 16 years and 26 surgeries, Nichole Dunkley is still being haunted by a deadly disease affecting her colon and is seeking the public's help to make yet another attempt at getting rid of the problem.

Dunkley, now 33 years old, discovered at age 17 that she had a genetic condition called a tailgut cyst growing on her colon.

Her plans of becoming a nurse or dietician ended the day they were supposed to begin when she landed in hospital instead of at school. Her time in hospital led to a two-year period of misdiagnosis, many surgeries and attempts by local doctors to treat something they knew nothing about. "They made an attempt to get rid of it. You know they would cut it off piece by piece, but that did not work. They tried to burn it off...," she told THE STAR .

Instead after several biopsies and analysis of the lump, the true diagnosis was made. The cyst which functioned like an intestine collected fluids to digest food but because there was no way for the body to drain it, it became poisonous.

After visiting several doctors, she found out she needed to see a colorectal specialist who could provide the surgery and treatment she needed. She found one in Miami who did the first major surgery in 2002, however that was not enough and she later found out that all of the cyst had not been removed when the symptoms returned. However, that doctor was convinced he had done the job completely and told her that he would not operate again.

Massive fistula

But she had to seek another specialist soon after when a massive fistula (a tiny hole that she says her body made to help the cyst drain fluid), formed on her body. She said it was so big that doctors put a tube through the hole and directed it into the cyst to study it.

In 2003 she met Dr. Sergio Larach from Florida, a colorectal specialist who did two surgeries to remove all traces of the disease. But in the following year after she thought it was all over, she saw the fistula tracks again proving that all of it was not gone. "In 2004 I started feeling discomfort, the cyst seems to pressing on my small intestine," she said.

Now she needs to return for him to help her again. She has not yet gone to see Dr. Larach but has spoken to him about having another surgery, which will be quite costly. "I need about $3 million (includes all expenses) to do this surgery because I would still like to be self-employed and take care of myself and I can't do it in my present state," she said.

Dunkley says her present condition is a painful one. "Whenever I eat, the food not going down I have to be taking laxatives to help it go down," she said.

She is in so much pain that she has to take two to three pain killers each day just to be able to get out of bed.

Her family has already spent all they have on previous and current treatments, but she remains hopeful that she will get help she needs. Carmen Wellington, Dunkley's mother said her life and her daughter's have been seriously affected by the disease. "It's very stressful. when she's sick it's like I am sick ... She is on depression tablets because she have bipolar disorder. She have to take tablets for the rest of her life," she said.

Pastor Meric Walker, head of the New Haven Seventh Day Adventist Church, the church which Dunkley attends, said she deserves to get her chance. "She is cheerful in all of that and her faith has not wavered. In fact, out of the situation she has been strengthened," he said.

He noted that the church has been very supportive in helping her to raise funds for other surgeries and medication that she needs. "I would be delighted if her faith can be honoured," he said.

After so many years of not giving up Nichole is asking the public not to give up on her and help her get another chance at life. Anyone wishing to assist Dunkley can donate funds to Scotia Bank Account 722373 in Half Way Tree.