Tag: inspirational

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Real Life

Bullies call me ugly, but I’ve found my Mr Right

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.

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Real Life

Jealous of slim sister…so I lost 11st

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

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Real Life

Facebook message jailed my abuser

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.

 

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Real Life

eHarmony prince turned into violent monster

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.

 

 

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Real Life

Kidnapped, raped and force-fed pills by toyboy ex

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.

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Real Life

Boyfriend eaten by flesh-eating bug!

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.

 

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Real Life

I broke my spine fleeing sex attacker!

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.

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Real Life

Scarred for life after Valentine’s Day spring rolls catastrophe

Mercedes was looking forward to spending Valentine’s Day with her new boyfriend, Simon. In fact, she was intending to rustle up her speciality dish of pork and cabbage spring rolls. But as she drizzled oil into the pan, it set alight. As the flames soared, Mercedes ran towards the kitchen door – tripping her cat, Turbo, and flinging the scorching oil all over herself. After being rushed to hospital in an ambulance, Mercedes underwent several painful skin grafts and is now scarred for life. Hoping to use her story to inspire other women, Mercedes says that she and Simon are still very much in love but will definitely be getting a takeaway this year.

Her story was published in Pick Me Up.

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Real Life

I snared my paedophile babysitter with Facebook message

Some of Olwen Owen’s first memories are of her depraved cousin, Christopher De Maria, sexually abusing her. The paedophile was trusted to babysit Olwen, but instead abused her secretly throughout her childhood. After concealing her torment for almost 20 years, Olwen was horrified to discover that Christopher had children of his own and set about bringing him to justice. Cleverly capturing his confession in a Facebook message, she reported him to the police and he was jailed for seven-and-a-half years last July.

Read her amazing story in today’s Sun here.

Categories
Real Life

My hubby was stabbed to death…at my dad’s funeral

Donna was devastated when her stepfather died, but she was dealt a double-blow when her beloved husband was stabbed to death while they attended the funeral. Describing Peter as her ‘soul mate’, Donna told Woman’s Own how she is coping after losing the most important person in her life and why she won’t let his evil killer, Johnny Nicholles, spoil her cherished memories of Peter.