A FORMER Kingsley resident is facing deportation from the UK after being misdiagnosed three times for a severely broken ankle that left her unable to work and pay for expensive medical bills while sustaining her singing career.
Sage Noreika trained at WAAPA, auditioned for The Voice Australia and performed at Telethon before moving to London in 2016 to pursue her dream of becoming a famous singer.
The 26-year-old, who has performed at hundreds of venues in the UK and Europe, injured her ankle last November when she tripped on a kerb while walking home from a gig in London.
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READ NOWMs Noreika said she went to hospital that night but staff sent her home. She went back to hospital months later because she still could not walk.
“The hospital again sent me home with nothing, calling me two weeks later to say after reviewing X-rays it was fractured in three places and I had two completely torn tendons,” she said.
“All up it was six months before the correct treatment was given.
“After three misdiagnoses by the (UK) National Health Scheme, my ankle was left severely damaged, leaving me unable to work and barely able to survive in London.”
Having never fully recovered from the injury, the entertainer had to have surgery last month to rebuild her ankle with three metal rods.
Now on bed rest for about two months, Ms Noreika said she feared deportation because she could not work to fund the 9000 (about $16,000) needed to pay for her Masters degree in popular music performance.
“After a successful Masters audition, I found out being an international student outside of the EU requires me to pay 9000 upfront,” she said.
“I am unable to get a loan, as I cannot apply for a new visa without the full course being paid.
“If the money is not paid by July, I will not only lose everything I’ve worked towards with my music, but I will also be deported.”
Ms Noreika, who was formerly signed to US label Asylum Records, has set up a crowdfunding page that she said would help fund her masters degree and allow her to stay in the country.
“My debut album is well under way, with the completion of my video clip the next step,” she said.
“This depends solely on me being able to stay in the country through the study of the masters.”
Donate at crowdfunder.co.|uk/save-sages-singing-dreams.