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Fun-loving Jean never thought she’d find her Mr Right as she was born with a condition called Apert syndrome, which causes facial malformation. Cruelly dubbed ‘ugly’ by bullies, she was self-conscious about her appearance and had given up all hope of getting married and having a family of her own. But all that changed when she met Martin, who Jean says has finally made her ‘feel beautiful’.
Jean shares her touching story in this week’s Pick Me Up.
Crohn’s sufferer Kirsty claims that doctors accused her of being anorexic after she lost a shocking 10st in just three months. The 20-year-old says that she told GPs she was suffering from an upset stomach, cramps and fatigue – all common symptoms of the inflammatory digestive condition, Crohn’s disease. However, she claims that doctors instead referred her to an eating disorder clinic.
Her story appeared on the Mail Online and the Mirror Online.
For more information on Crohn’s, visit Crohn’s and Colitis UK.
Kady and Louis were enjoying a romantic countryside stroll when they were mercilessly mown down by a hit-and-run driver. Left for dead in a ditch, they were rescued by a doctor who happened to be driving past on his way back from playing badminton. The couple were rushed to hospital, where they were sent straight to surgery. Then to add insult to their life-threatening injuries, they discovered that the driver was none other than their pal, Alistair – who was later arrested and jailed for two years and eight months. Kady and Louis are still reeling from the betrayal, but say they are moving on with their lives.
As seen in Real People.
Born with Apert syndrome, Jean has spent her whole life defending herself from cruel bullies who call her ‘ugly’. Her condition affects just one in in 200,000 births in the UK and causes malformations of the skull, face, hands and feet. Following her birth 26 years ago, doctors warned her parents that she wouldn’t live past her third birthday. But Jean defied the odds and two years ago found love with Martin, who has cerebral palsy. Now the couple hope to get married and start a family.
As seen in the New Day.
Amanda had always admired her slim sister, Suzanne. The two were inseparable, but at 23 stone and a size 28, Amanda always felt like the ugly sibling. Men called her ‘fatty’, and a DJ dedicated the Mr Blobby song to her at a family party. But after their mum was diagnosed with cancer, Amanda realised she was putting her health at risk and made the decision to lose weight. With her sister’s support, she cut back on snacks and went on long country walks. Eighteen months later, she’s shed an incredible 11st and her and Suzanne are closer than ever. In fact, people even get them mixed up!
Amanda’s story appeared in Take a Break
Olwen bravely told Woman’s Own readers how she was sexually abused by her sick cousin, Christopher, who was trusted to babysit her. Although he denied his terrible crimes, his lies unravelled in court when Olwen was able to produce a Facebook message in which he admitted his guilt. Christopher was eventually sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison, prompting Olwen to share her story to encourage other sexual abuse survivors to report their attackers.
Olwen has also appeared in Pick Me Up and The Sun.
When Carys met Garry on the online dating website eHarmony, she thought she’d found the one. Little did she know that Garry would turn into a violent monster who beat her black and blue in a terrifying attack.
Carys bravely shared her story in Bella to raise awareness for other victims of domestic violence.
For help and support regarding domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline.
Michelle wasn’t expecting to fall in love with her son’s friend, Carmarni – who was 16 years her junior. But with her son’s blessing, the two became a couple and began a future together. However, after Michelle tried to end the relationship, Carmarni trapped Michelle in her flat before raping her and force-feeding her anti-anxiety medication to stop her from fleeing and telling the police. Nevertheless, Michelle managed to escape and bravely took Carmarni to court to see him jailed for 18 years.
She shared her story in That’s Life.
Jessica was looking forward to spending a romantic Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend of seven years, James. But shortly beforehand, James started feeling poorly. The pair went to his GP, who prescribed antibiotics and sent him home. Just hours later, James was delirious and slipping in and out of consciousness. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors discovered he’d developed the deadly condition necrotising fasciitis – a flesh-eating bug – and his skin was rotting away. Giving James only a 30% chance of survival, doctors put him in an induced coma for three weeks as they battled to save his skin.
Thankfully James survived the terrifying ordeal and the couple bravely shared his story in Pick Me Up to raise awareness.
Jemma Rixon hit the headlines in 2014 when she broke her back after jumping out of a window to escape sex attacker Craig Cantwell. After appearing on ITV’s This Morning and featuring in UK magazines and newspapers such as Real People, the Mirror, Daily Mail and Daily Star, Jemma has bravely shared her story with Australia’s That’s Life to help raise awareness for other victims of sexual attacks.
Charlotte Brazier