The best friend of a brave mum-of-one battling a rare combination of two terminal illnesses is appealing for people who may have knowledge about how she could be helped, to get in touch urgently as her treatment has stopped working.
The Echo has been following the sad but inspirational story of former Exeter College student Jo Smith, 36, from Broadhembury near Honiton, who suffers from Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) and lymphatic cancer.
Jo, who has remained defiant in her attitude to fight her afflictions for the sake of her three-year-old son Rudey, was admitted to Hammersmith Hospital in London on Monday where doctors said her PH has worsened and her treatment is no longer effective.
Meanwhile, she is waiting for the outcome of tests to see if the cancer has advanced.
Her best friend Sarah Lacey, who launched the Breathe for Jo fundraising campaign to fund pioneering treatment for her friend via the Echo in April, has now appealed for anyone who may have knowledge of the best way to treat PH, to get in touch.
On the Breathe for Jo Facebook page, Sarah wrote: "Jo and I have always been so positive about the outcome of all this; never wanting things to sound gloomy or too sad.
"Jo was admitted unexpectedly admitted to Hammersmith Hospital London on Monday, where the PH team confirmed the PH has got substantially worse and the treatment she had been taking was sadly no longer effective.
"So Jo is now trying out a nebuliser which will hopefully make life a bit easier for her, as currently she is stage four, which means she is unable to perform even the most basic of tasks.
"With regards to the lymphoma, we are awaiting recent scan results to confirm whether there has been any change.
"Jo's health has declined for now, but we are as determined as ever to find a solution."
When the campaign launched, the generous public donated an incredible £30,000 in 15 days for Jo to receive what was supposed to be pioneering treatment at the Better Being Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 45-day immunotherapy treatment was thought to be her one and only lifeline.
But within days of arriving, Jo and Sarah made the "heartbreaking" decision to return to Exeter when the treatment they had been promised did not materialise.
Funds have and will continue to be ploughed into alternative therapies which Jo has been avidly researching.
Jo is caught in a devastating catch-22 situation, unable to undergo treatment for the cancer because of the risk to her heart and lungs which have been weakened by the PH.
Neither can she be put on a waiting list for a heart and lung transplant, because she has cancer.
Sarah added: "We are still hoping that someone will come forward with a solution that actually works. Hope is a wonderful thing.
"You have all helped keep her spirits up for so long. Thank you so very much."
To pledge your support visit the Breathe for Jo Facebook page or email Sarah on, sarah@ontrackmusicevents.com
