Devastating reason woman needs to get home to Italy

A Queensland woman’s life turned upside when she suddenly began to feel extremely weak – and what happened next is devastating.

Ania Szkolik’s life turned upside down when she was diagnosed with a rare illness that saw her lose most of her vision and become paralysed from the chest down.

The 35-year-old, originally from Italy, first came to Queensland in 2016.

She then met her now partner Phillip Bogdanski, 37, during the pandemic in March 2020 where the two – Ania, an airport customer service agent and Phillip, a disability worker – have spent the past few years building a life together full of adventure and travel.

However, in late 2022, their world turned upside down when Ms Szkolik’s health started to suddenly spiral out of control.

Ania Szkolik, 35, and Phillip Bogdanski, 37, live in Surfers Paradise.

After feeling incredibly unwell, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but it was later revealed she was misdiagnosed and instead she has a similar auto-immune disorder called neuromyelitis optica (NMO).

It’s a rare auto-immune disorder which affects the central nervous system. According to the National MS Society, it shares some symptoms with multiple sclerosis and can be misdiagnosed as MS.

Following her MS diagnosis, Ms Szkolik began to feel unwell a couple of days before Christmas.

“She was transported to Gold Coast Hospital where she was diagnosed with Covid-19 and got into such terrible shape that she almost ended up on a breathing machine,” Mr Bogdanski told news.com.au.

Ania Szkolik’s life turned upside down when she was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disorder called NMO neuromyelitis optica.

After she was released, she began to feel weak but didn’t think anything of it.

When Mr Bogdanski returned home from work on January 9, he found his partner in such a bad state he immediately rushed her to hospital.

“She was very weak and her body was rejecting food,” he told news.com.au.

“She was experiencing some kind of fever and infection that could not be figured out by the medical team.

She has spent the past three months in hospital.

“After about a week, Ania lost mobility in her body from the chest down. The doctors had no idea what was going on.

“She also had no control over her bowels.”

After several tests, she was finally diagnosed with NMO, which causes damage to the immune system, spinal cord and eyes.

NMO mainly affects the spinal cord and the optic nerves – the nerves that carry signals from the eyes to the brain. As a result, the disease can cause paralysis and blindness, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

“Those with MS get the same mobility issues, but she had some kind of infection. They then found inflammation on her spine and it was concluded she had NMO,” Mr Bogdanski said.

Ania lived an active and adventurous lifestyle but she has lost mobility from the chest down with 90 per cent of vision lost.

Ms Szkolik has been told there’s a possibility she may never walk again, but family and friends are hopeful after the 35-year-old began to wiggle her toes for the first time after three months.

“When you see your loved ones struggle, you just wish you can trade places with them and take away their pain,” a distraught Mr Bogdanski said.

“Especially for a young, hardworking, beautiful woman I really care about.

“It’s very hard – all I can do is give her my support and love and keep putting my best foot forward.”

They are raising money to help get her home to Italy to be with her family and continue treatment.

Ms Szkolik’s mother has travelled from Italy to be by her daughter’s side, but Mr Bogdanski is raising money to help send his partner back home with her mother to continue her treatment as her medical benefits in Australia are set to expire.

“She is not entitled to NDIS and her Medicare is approaching to be cut off as we’ve also been having immigration issues with our partner visa (which is pending), but the plan is to have her go back to Italy should the visa not be honoured,” he said.

Ania has been living in Australia since 2016.

She and Phillip met in March 2020.

“The hospital here has been communicating with the hospital in Italy for a transition plan.”

Mr Bogdanski has started a GoFundMe with money raised to go towards medical transportation from the Gold Coast to Pergine Valsugana, northern Italy.

“These funds will [also] cover the costs of airfare and the necessary equipment required by airlines for intercontinental transportation of disabled people with a minimum of one stopover along the way,” he said.

“The transportation of disabled people can incur additional costs, including special equipment that will make air travel accessible and comfortable for Ania.”

He said the effects of his girlfriend’s illness have had a devastating impact on her family, but the outpour of love and support from the community has been overwhelming.

“We have had good success with the GoFundMe for which we are so grateful. The support has been amazing.”