A former school stalwart struggling with a chronic stomach condition has launched a desperate fundraising appeal as she bids to feel “normal” again.

Pat Ferady, 62, needs to raise £17,000 to allow her to undergo surgery and have a gastric electrical stimulator installed.

Mrs Ferady, of Collins Close, Braintree, has been battling idiopathic gastroparesis for nine years and says the illness resulted in her retiring early having worked as a headteacher’s secretary at Notley High School for more than 20 years.

The chronic condition means food passes through the stomach at a slower rate than usual due to an issue with the nerves and muscles.

Mrs Ferady’s condition has become so severe that she is only able to take on liquid foods of up to 600ml each day.

She said: “It has a severe debilitating effect on my quality of life.

“As well as the physical symptoms, it affects my general health and well-being.

“I am becoming more and more isolated.

“I am unable to socialise with friends and family.

“I can’t remember the last time I was able to participate fully in a celebration such as a birthday or Christmas.

“I dream about not feeling sick or being in pain and sitting down at a table and eating the same food as everyone else.

“The tiredness means that I am limited to what I can do.

“I just want to feel normal again.”

The installation of a pacemaker would help stimulate Mrs Ferady’s stomach muscles enough to allow her to starting eating solid foods again.

NHS England is unable to fund the cost of the operation, so in an effort to raise some of the cash for the surgery, Mrs Ferady has set up an online crowdfunding page with a target of £10,000.

Donations have flooded in and she has already raised more than £8,500.

Despite the success of her campaign, Mrs Ferady admits she feels let down by the health service

She said: “I have been completely overwhelmed by the reaction of people who have donated.

“The whole thing has been exhausting. It took a long time to get my head round having to retire early.

“And then to find out I couldn’t get the treatment on the NHS having worked my entire life was so frustrating and made me angry.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pat-ferady-gastroparesis.