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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rachel used to munch on 1kg of cheese per week – the equivalent of 8 STONE per year. But after curbing her cheese addiction, she’s lost a massive 15st 7lbs and is a slim size 10-12.
Read her story in today’s Sun.
Charlotte Brazier