Gofundme mum vows Mexico return

Within days of Eilidh Lowell flying out to Cancun’s pioneering Immunocine Cancer Center in Cancún with dad Kenny McLeod from Connel, she was floored by a bacterial infection which meant the planned six-week treatment, backed by Gofundme wellwishers and other supporters raising more than £98,000,  had to be postponed.

The bug that left her ’baulking" and in lots of pain also landed the 42-year-old with a £7,500 medical bill after she was admitted to hospital suffering severe dehydration among her symptoms and needing a blood transfusion and antibiotics.

Eilidh had flu before Christmas but was feeling fine when she boarded the ten-hour flight from London,  tests before she left the UK were clear for her to go, she said.

Despite being gutted to come home before the treatment got started, Eilidh is "not prepared to give up" and hopes to return to the clinic later this year - hopefully in the next three months.

The clinic has kept its deposit but refunded the rest which is being kept safe here in the UK, although the fundraising appeal - that set a target at £110,000 - needs to keep going now more than ever to help cover ’false-start’ expenses - including the unexpected hospital admission.

"I was so sick, I was baulking and in a lot of pain. I was so drowsy. I can’t remember getting to hospital, although I managed to walk in before I was put on a trolly. Poor dad, he was so worried especially as we were so far from home but they treated me and dad so well. We got amazing care.

"To be able to attack the cancer in my body, my immune system needed to be 100 per cent for the treatment to go ahead,  to have started unfit  would’ve just confused things. The clinic has been incredible, they said I’m priority, I’m pending.

"Being ill before Christmas didn’t favour me, I think.  In all honesty I thought I was better and ready for Mexico. There are so many possibilities where  I could’ve picked up the infection from - the recycled air on the flight , eating at a vegetarian cafe, even from the water out there - there are lots of rules about it. You can shower in it but can’t brush your teeth with it, you certainly can’t drink the tap water and I didn’t do that but at the end of the day water goes through your pores. I just don’t know what did it. They say you’re okay to wash your vegetables and fruit in tap water. I thought I was being careful. Could it’ve been prevented? I just don’t know. A lot of people do fall ill out in Mexico," she said.

And added: "I’m not prepared to give up. I see more positives from this experience than negatives. I’ve learned for next time. I see this as another challenge to face and overcome rather than it being a set-back. I’m trusting God’s timing on  this. I’m going to go into remission, that’s what I want. There are people who’ve had this treatment and done it. I’m the first Scottish lassie/person to be at the clinic and I will go back."