The relatives of a nine-year-old east Antrim girl with complex needs are “overwhelmed” with the support they have received over recent days after an online fundraising effort was launched in a bid to collect donations to help cover the costs of “life-saving surgery” in London.

Jazmine Hawthorne, who has autism and is non verbal, as well as having learning difficulties, is being treated for dystonia. The Hill Croft School pupil was also recently diagnosed with arfid, a form of anorexia.

Jazmine weighs only three stone and one ounce and her family have been advised that she needs to have Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) surgery in order to feed her.

However, they have been informed there is up to a three-year wait for the treatment on the NHS and due to her weight loss, they have launched a crowd funding initiative in a bid to fund private treatment and have the surgery conducted as soon as possible.

Jazmine Hawthorne (9). (Pic: Contributed).

placeholder image — Jazmine Hawthorne (9). (Pic: Contributed).

Jazmine’s mother Leanne Hawthorne, explained: “Realising Jazmine needs this surgery, it’s been so hard to process.

"I’ve never reached out like this before, it feels like it’s more or less begging. As a family, we’re extremely grateful for the support we’ve received since I launched the Go Fund Me page on October 27.

"Jazmine is surviving on three types of crisps. That’s all she is eating. We’re spending over £80 per week on these three brands of crisps. It’s all she eats. Due to her complex conditions, she hates food. She even hates seeing the rest of us eating in the house. Her siblings are having to go out of the room to eat. She gets really annoyed at the sight of food.

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"She used to drink milk, but has stopped drinking milk and she hasn’t grown in over three years.

"I could take her out of school, but she loves going there. During the summer she was giving me her uniform and wanting to get dressed. It was heart-breaking to see her sitting in the house during the summer with her coat on wanting to leave for school. She’s falling asleep on the bus to school now and falling asleep during class.

"She’s waking with hunger during the night. She used to eat a chocolate bar at school, but that’s stopped as well and we can’t get her to eat it in the house as she associates it with school.

"We used to give her shakes. It was £15 for six shakes, but we didn’t mind paying it as she was getting something. We tried a different brand and she didn’t like them and now she doesn’t want any of them.”

Leanne added: “Jazmine can’t be this weight. I’m so relieved that it’s been recognised by medical professionals and a nurse is coming out twice a week to weigh her.

"Her operation will cost up to £20,000 at the Portland Hospital in London. The NHS know what our situation is and how low her weight is. It’s frustrating to see her this way and we realise other families are in the same position.

"We’re overwhelmed by the generosity people have shown. It means so much to see complete strangers wanting to contribute and support Jazmine and help her get the life-saving surgery.”

Over £17,000 has been raised at the time of publication.