Patricia Roberts is a survivor of two bouts of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a rare but life-threatening condition caused by an adverse reaction to common medication. The condition presents with a rash on the skin that blisters over and causes the skin to peel off in sheets. Victims are susceptible to infection and are often treated in burn units. Blisters also can form in the mouth or on the eyes, which can lead to dehydration or vision problems.

When Roberts heard the story of 4-year-old Ali Ghazi, who also suffered from SJS, she felt moved to help. His had painful sores on his eyes that kept him from opening his eyes. As a result, his eyelids fused together.

Sixty years his senior, Roberts says she feels for the boy. “All I want is for him to be able to see the world again,” she said in a story in Horsforth Today.

Roberts, who was treated for SJS last December, has teamed up with other survivors of SJS to raise money to bring Ali to England for treatment. So far, she has raised 5,000 pounds but says another 50,000 pounds is needed to get him the treatment he needs to see again.

“I was in pain and scared, and I’m a grownup. How does a 4-year-old feel?” she said. “At least we can do something to stop the pain he’s in.”

SOURCE: Stevens Johnson Syndrome › Woman raises money to help Pakistani boy with SJS