Tag: survivor

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Real Life

Pregnancy weight fear made me starve my unborn child

After piling on the pounds during her first pregnancy, Amanda was determined to stay slim while expecting her second child, Macauley. But what started as a bid to stay healthy soon spiralled into a deadly eating disorder. Consumed by her desire to be skinny, Amanda began skipping meals and exercising for up to three hours a day – gaining just 7lb during her entire pregnancy. Thankfully Macauley was born healthy, but within days of giving birth, Amanda was setting her alarm for 3.30am to squeeze in seven hours of exercise. Eventually her weight plummeted to 7st, and her hair fell out – forcing her to seek help for her anorexia.

Now fully recovered, Amanda worked with me to share her inspiring story in Woman magazine.

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Real Life

I had a tumour the size of a BABY growing in my tum

Lianne was devastated when doctors told her she had a rare form of kidney cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma. But the biggest shock was yet to come. After undergoing surgery to remove the tumour, she was gobsmacked to discover that it weighed 6lb – the average weight of a newborn baby! Now Lianne has made a full recovery, and credits her positive attitude to her adorable four-year-old son, Regan.

She bravely shared her story in Pick Me Up.

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Real Life

E-cigarette burned down my house!

Sarah had just finished reading her son a bed-time story when her house was set on fire by an E-cigarette she had plugged in downstairs. To add insult to injury, Sarah had only given up smoking that day. Thankfully she and her son escaped the fire and are now back in their home. Sarah shared her story in Chat to highlight the potential dangers of charging E-cigarettes.

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Real Life

Abused by Dad after Mum died

Corinne was devastated when her mum died, but her nightmare wasn’t over. Just weeks after her mum’s death, her paedophile dad began sexually abusing her. The twisted pervert – who was also a nudist – blamed Corinne’s increasingly withdrawn behaviour on her grieving for her mum. But after being inspired by the Jimmy Savile scandal, Corinne reported her dad to the police and he was jailed for three-and-a-half years for his despicable crimes. She bravely shared her story in Pick Me Up to raise awareness for other victims of sexual abuse.

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Real Life

Crohn’s made me lose 10st, but doctors ‘said I was anorexic’

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.

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Real Life

Mown down by hit-and-run pal on romantic stroll

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.

 

 

Categories
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.

Categories
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.