FUNDS have been pouring in for a Cwmbran woman who was struck down by a terrifying brain and spinal cord condition that has left her unable to speak and barely able to move.

Lisa Wilcox, 31, fought off pneumonia, and life-threatening meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, after falling ill in January.

But she was later diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (Adem), a rare inflammatory brain and spinal cord condition, which attacks the protective layer covering nerve fibres.

The condition has left her unable to move or talk.

Now, her cousin, Natasha Maddison-Wilcox, has said that it is hoped she can be transferred to Rookwood Hospital, in Cardiff, for two years of rehabilitation in the next six to eight weeks.

She said: “Lisa remains in a stable condition but is still unable to move or speak, but a brain scan showed that there are parts of her brain that are not damaged, which is positive.

“But there has been damage to the part that controls her balance and to the right side of the brain that will affect the left side of her body.”

Her parents Anthony and Ceri Wilcox, also of Cwmbran, at her bedside several hours a day, but do not drive.

So, Ms Maddison-Wilcox and Lucy Harrison, who is married to another of Miss Wilcox’s cousins, began a fundraising drive to help with future expenses. She said they have been “overwhelmed” by the response from both the community and companies with £4,300 being raised online.

The pair are also selling raffle tickets and are hosting a fun day at the Castell-y-Bwch pub, near Henllys, Cwmbran, on Saturday June 13, between 1pm and 6pm.

Ms Maddison-Wilcox said Miss Wilcox, who works at the Castell-y-Bwch, is a happy, fun loving woman.

She described how Miss Wilcox had a cough but kept working, but on January 15, she felt light-headed and collapsed.

She went to bed that afternoon because she thought she had a virus, but when her parents couldn’t wake her, they called an ambulance at 7pm.

She added: “By 10pm Miss Wilcox was in an induced coma at the Royal Gwent, where pneumonia, meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia were diagnosed.

“They thought she was going to die but she pulled through.

“Then she developed Adem.

“She was in intensive care for another three weeks.”

She said Miss Wilcox can communicate using her eyes and has begun moving her neck a bit.

To donate visit http://dt.gofund.me/oawc30 or for information on how to donate or buy a raffle ticket email Natasha Maddison-Wilcox on tashaalexwilcox83@gmail.com