A Liverpool sports massage therapist who has spent years helping others recover from injury and regain their wellbeing is now facing the biggest challenge of her own life after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. Dasha Nakonieczna, 39, is due to have major surgery and a GoFundMe has been set up by friends to help support her financially during this very challenging time.
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Dasha, founder of My Body Therapy and based at the Inner Guru Wellbeing Hub in Liverpool, recently celebrated a major professional achievement when she was named Best Sports Therapy & Massage Clinic of the Year in the North West. However, just weeks after receiving the prestigious award, she was given devastating news that has turned her world upside down.
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Dasha, who turns 40 in August, has spent the last year living with a persistent headache that never fully went away. Alongside the headaches, she would regularly experience migraines several times a month. Over time, other symptoms began to emerge, including problems with vision in her left eye, difficulty finding the right words, memory issues and struggles expressing herself clearly.
Concerned by the worsening symptoms, Dasha visited her doctor and was referred for blood tests and a CT scan. What she thought would be a routine appointment quickly became something far more serious. “I was in for around 30 seconds,” she recalls. “They told me I needed an MRI scan and to speak to a neurosurgeon.”
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Following further investigations, Dasha received the diagnosis no one wants to hear. In May, doctors confirmed that the tumour was growing and needed to be removed. On Friday, 5th June, Dasha will undergo major brain surgery to remove the tumour. While the operation is essential, it will have a significant impact on her life and finances.
As a self-employed therapist, she relies entirely on being physically able to work. Following surgery, she is expected to be unable to drive and could be out of work for up to six months while she recovers. Like many self-employed people, Dasha does not have access to the same financial support available to those in salaried employment. Despite owning her own home, she is not entitled to assistance with her mortgage payments, leaving her facing considerable financial pressure during her recovery.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO DASHA’S GOFUNDME
The diagnosis has prompted an outpouring of support from friends, clients and colleagues who know Dasha through her work and her involvement in the local wellbeing community. Her partner, Lewis Powell, together with the team and community at Inner Guru Wellbeing Hub, have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help ease the financial burden and allow Dasha to focus on her recovery rather than worrying about household bills and mortgage payments.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO DASHA’S GOFUNDME
Those who know Dasha describe her as one of the most caring and generous people they have met. Throughout her career, she has helped countless people recover from injuries, improve their physical health and rebuild their confidence. She has also volunteered her time to support rehabilitation programmes and individuals who otherwise may not have been able to access treatment.
Friends say it is now their turn to help someone who has dedicated so much of her life to helping others. “Dasha has always been there for people when they needed support,” said her partner Lewis. “She has given so much of herself to her clients and the wider community. Now we’re asking people to come together and support her through this incredibly difficult chapter.”
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO DASHA’S GOFUNDME
The fundraising campaign aims to provide financial support while Dasha undergoes surgery and begins what is expected to be a lengthy recovery journey. Anyone wishing to support Dasha and learn more about her story can donate through the GoFundMe campaign set up by her family, friends and the Inner Guru community.
As she prepares for surgery, Dasha remains determined and positive, drawing strength from the support she has received from loved ones, clients and the wider Liverpool community. For someone whose career has been built on helping others heal, the community is now rallying around to help her heal in return.
