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Real Life

I saved my life to walk down the aisle!

Natasha had always dreamed of getting married, so she was thrilled when her boyfriend of four years, Scott, proposed by dressing their two-year-old daughter, Evie-Mae in a babygrow emblazoned with the words ‘Mummy, will you marry Daddy?’. Within two months, she had picked her dress and selected nine bridesmaids. But just three months before her dream wedding, Natasha contracted the deadly blood infection, sepsis. Luckily, NHS call handler Natasha recognised the symptoms – including a fever, fatigue and disorientation – and an ambulance was promptly called to rush her to hospital. There, Natasha was put in an induced coma as doctors battled to save her life. Her devastated fiance and family were warned that she may not survive. Thankfully, Natasha pulled through and last month she walked down the aisle. She said: “Almost dying made my day so much more special. It was everything I had always dreamed of.”

Natasha’s inspiring story appeared on the Mirror and Mail Online.

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Real Life

Birthmark bullies won’t stop my Hollywood dream

Bullied mercilessly at school for her distinctive birthmarks, Marika never believed that she’d be able to accomplish her dream of becoming a Hollywood actress. Throughout her childhood, she suffered cruel taunts from school bullies, who said she looked like a ‘cow’ and was ‘splattered with mud’. After undergoing seven painful surgeries to remove the largest of her birthmarks – which cover 60% of her body – Marika says she has finally decided to embrace her unique look. She now hopes to become a Hollywood actress to inspire body confidence in other girls. “I will never look like a typical movie star,” she explains. “But I’m glad. My birthmarks make me who I  am. It’s taken me 19 years, but I finally love and respect myself.”

Marika’s story has appeared in Good Housekeeping, and the Mail Online.

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Real Life

Son’s allergic reaction almost burnt him alive

Little Declan Bitmead-Ellis was left fighting for his life after a one-in-a-million allergic reaction to tonsillitis medication led him to develop the deadly condition, TEN (toxic epidermal necrolysis). Mum Ashleigh watched in horror as his skin burned from the inside and his eyes fused shut. Now recovered, the brave six-year-old is back at school but has to wear special sunglasses to protect his eyes from the sun.

Proud Ashleigh shared Declan’s story in Pick Me Up.

 

Categories
Real Life

Boy almost blind after horrific allergic reaction to antibiotic

 

Adorable Declan Bitmead-Ellis, 6, has been left almost blind after a horrific allergic reaction to the commonly-prescribed antibiotic Amoxicillin. Soon after taking the drug, his skin had peeled off and he was fighting for his life in intensive care. Doctors later diagnosed him with toxic epidermal necrolysis (TENS), which has a 30% mortality rate. Now back at school, he’s been left almost blind and has to wear special sunglasses to protect his eyes.

As seen in the Metro, Mail Online, Mirror and Sun.