A girl is fighting for her life in hospital after she caught a deadly strain of E.coli suspected to be from food bought at a Christmas market.
Antonia, 17, from Buckinghamshire, has spent the past two weeks in intensive care after doctors believe she has been struck down by complications associated with E.coli O157, her family have said.
The performing arts student, who is an aspiring actress, is believed to have contracted the bacteria from a market in Great Missenden.
She has undergone multiple operations - including one to remove part of her bowel - and a blood transfusion because her kidneys have been failing, forcing her onto dialysis.
Her sister Jemima Hay has started a GoFundMe page.
She wrote: "She is currently lucky to be alive and has continued to show amazing determination and strength throughout this time, despite the immense stress, pain and trauma - all combined with an extreme phobia of injections."
Antonia was allowed to spend Christmas Day at home with her family before returning to the hospital on Boxing Day because of her kidney failure.
The aspiring actress feels as if her "dreams have been ripped away" because she cannot continue studying her performing arts course, her sister said.
The family also currently has no income, as her father is not being paid for taking time off work.
Ms Hay said: "Anybody who has met Antonia will know that she is the most kind, caring, outgoing person and lights up any room she walks into.
"Despite going through the toughest time in her life, all she has cared about is everybody else and how they are feeling, still trying to make everybody laugh.
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"It is likely that this will impact her for the rest of her life and as a singer, dancer and aspiring actress, it is important that we support her through everything, as she feels as if her dreams have been ripped away from her, as her studies on her performing arts course will be severely impacted.
"It is thanks to the kindness of her friends and family and support from people in the community that she has made it this far and will continue to stay strong."
According to the NHS, only a small amount of people go on to develop HUS from this strain of E.coli.
You can catch this specific strain by eating contaminated food, touching infected animals, having contact with others who have the virus and drinking or swimming in infected water.
The page has currently exceeded the target of £5,000 in just 24 hours and has now raised almost £8,000.
The family thanked the public for their generosity and added: 'This money will help her immensely with her ongoing treatments, recovery and expenses, including following her performing arts dreams.'
All tested positive for a specific strain called 0145, feared to be lurking in the cheese.
