Real Stories With Ranvir Singh - Episode 3

Ranvir Singh and Michael Underwood return tonight at 7.30pm on ITV with three more unique stories of people involved in extraordinary, life-changing events.

Abi’s Fight for Life...

Abi Longfellow is like any other 12-year-old girl. But her life changed forever two years ago when she was diagnosed with a rare disease that stops her kidneys from working.

Abi’s life now revolves around dialysis, but she can only carry on with this for a few more years. A breakthrough came last year when she was told her Dad’s kidney was a perfect match for a transplant.

The plan was for this vital operation to take place in June.

But a drug called Eculizumab was needed, which could wipe out the disease if it recurred in the transplanted kidney from her Dad.

It’s one of the most expensive drugs in the world. The NHS had to refuse to fund the drug as they were not convinced it would be effective for Abi. The Longfellows fought the decision, but last month their appeal was rejected for the third time.

The Longfellows are still fighting the decision. They are hoping for yet another review by The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) around the policy of prescribing Eculizumab in cases like Abi’s. The Longfellows have also started raising the £50,000 they need to give Abi an initial course of the drug if her transplant goes ahead.

But for Abi and her family, their biggest battle now is against time.

Meet the Smiths...

Steve and Tracy Smith have been married for 30 years. In that time, the family business has gone from a market stall in the West Midlands to transforming the British high street – by dreaming up the concept of the pound store. Along the way, they’ve amassed a personal fortune of approximately £50million.

Despite their wealth, Tracy remains as thrifty as she always was! She allows her husband £20 spending money a day, bulk buys her cleaning products and loves snapping up a bargain in the supermarket clothing aisle.

Last year the couple realised money can’t buy health when Steve ended up in intensive care while on holiday.

Ranvir meets the down-to-earth couple in their home and discovers how they maintained their personal and professional relationship while watching their bank balance grow.

A Woman’s Best Friend…

Mary Lamb is a quite inspirational woman. Despite her disability, she’s a remarkably upbeat, confident and outgoing person. But life wasn’t always like that.

A self-confessed ‘biker-chick’ and keen horsewoman, Mary had a wonderful, active life and a loving, supportive family.

But in 2007 Mary was diagnosed with a condition called HNPP (Hereditary Neuropathy with Pressure Palsies), a progressive hereditary genetic condition that affects mainly her hands, arms, legs and feet. Walking and picking things up are very difficult and, even when Mary’s lying in bed, her muscles can go into painful spasm, waking her and preventing her sleeping until the symptoms subside.

Despite the love and support of her family, Mary began to feel increasingly depressed and isolated, and very vulnerable when going out in her wheelchair.

One day she saw a television programme about the ways that dogs could help people with disabilities, and a quick web search led her to Dogs for the Disabled.

When Mary was matched with a dog, she was incredibly excited, though somewhat nervous. But training went well and two years ago Yan came to live with Mary and support her.

And life has now been transformed for Mary thanks to her very special four-legged friend.

To find out more about the charity and to donate visit the Dogs for the Disabled website.