A Richmond woman who suffered repeated anaphylactic episodes that left her unable to breathe is facing a 14-month wait for an urgent NHS appointment, forcing her to crowdfund for private treatment costing nearly £10,000.

Emma Sargeant, an artist, was diagnosed in July with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a severe immune disorder where her body attacks everyday triggers, including food, heat, and cleaning products, as if they were life-threatening allergens.

Emma said: "When I eat food, even a rice cake, my body thinks it needs to attack.

"Cleaning a mug to make a cup of tea is exhausting. Going to the pharmacy is risky if someone is wearing strong perfume.

Emma's symptoms began in October 2024 with swelling, debilitating migraines, and exhaustion. Initially, doctors suspected lymphoma, leukaemia, or lupus as she contracted COVID, reactivated Epstein-Barr virus, flu, and shingles in quick succession.

But by summer, her condition had become life-threatening.

During heatwaves, her symptoms escalated dramatically: her face and throat would swell, breathing became compromised, and she experienced sudden anaphylaxis.

She said: "I had reactions where I couldn't breathe and I felt like I was being strangled.

"I was sleeping in ice packs as the migraines felt like my skull was cracked. I had lost 20lbs and a lot of hair at this point".

An NHS paramedic diagnosed idiopathic anaphylaxis and made an urgent referral to a specialist, stressing Emma should call an ambulance if symptoms worsened.

The 'urgent' NHS referral resulted in an appointment scheduled for autumn 2026 - over a year away, a 14-month wait.

She said: "The specialist informed me the soonest appointment as a result from the urgent referral is not until autumn of 2026.

"At this point, I was scared for my life".

An A&E doctor who treated Emma during a severe reaction confirmed she needed to see the specialist urgently, but the system simply couldn't accommodate her.

With her quality of life rapidly declining and reactions becoming more severe, Emma made the decision to pursue private treatment.

One of the UK's leading allergy specialists diagnosed Emma with MCAS and Dysautonomia/Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

Blood tests revealed she has no allergies and normal IgE levels, but dangerously high histamine levels - meaning her immune system is in overdrive, attacking harmless substances.

Despite maximum doses of three daily medications (720mg fexofenadine, 40mg famotidine, and 10mg montelukast), Emma's condition continued to worsen.

Her doctor has now prescribed Xolair injections as a 'last resort' treatment. £705 for the medication, £280 for the doctor, and £90 for administration - £1,075 per month for six to nine months. Total cost: up to £9,675.

"That's nearly my rent." Emma said.

"I cannot afford a loan as I am not in a position to pay it back".

The condition has debilitated the artist, she has been unable to paint due to exhaustion and cognitive impairment from brain fog.

She has been isolated at home for months, avoiding all potential triggers.

For three weeks, Emma has struggled to eat solid food, surviving on electrolytes and tea with honey to avoid malnutrition, which would further compromise her immune system.

She explains: "I haven't been able to see friends in months. My cognitive function was compromised, impacting work and even my ability to draw.

"I wasn't able to do the things I normally do to maintain my mental wellbeing".

Emma's GoFundMe campaign has raised £9,910 from supporters moved by her plight, nearly reaching her treatment goal.

She said: "Most people who know me know I push through things and work, and have been self-sufficient.

"Unfortunately my health has been so compromised that I have come to a sobering realisation that is genuinely a test to my ego, that I need help".

Her doctor has confirmed that after the Xolair treatment builds up in her system to suppress her overactive mast cells, she should be able to manage her condition much more easily and avoid the severe, life-threatening reactions she currently experiences.

The ongoing issues in NHS care, where even urgent referrals can result in waits of over a year, consequently forces patients with means to go private, or face deteriorating health.

Emma was seen by NHS paramedics who recognised the urgency, sent to A&E where doctors agreed she needed specialist care, and given an urgent referral, yet the system cannot deliver timely treatment.

She said: "Without treatment, it will continue to get worse.

"It's already been life threatening. I've been scared to ask for help but I'm at a point that this condition is scarier".

Emma has a dog named Sparrow to care for and, as she puts it, "some masterpieces I want to paint".

To donate to Emma's crowdfunder click here.