A mother-of-three who initially blamed a bad bowl of cereal for her sickness is now facing a devastating reality — her body can no longer process food.
From Mild Symptoms to a Life-Altering Diagnosis
Emile Cullum first became unwell in November 2024 after vomiting shortly after eating breakfast. At the time, she assumed the milk had simply gone off.
But what seemed like a one-off incident quickly spiraled.
After enduring 10 straight days of vomiting, she was admitted to hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with Crohn’s disease — a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract.
A Second Diagnosis Changed Everything
Despite treatment, her condition didn’t improve.
Months later, specialists delivered even worse news: she had gastroparesis — a disorder where the stomach becomes partially or completely paralyzed.
In simple terms, her stomach stopped moving food through her body.
“Your stomach is completely broken and nothing is going through,” she recalled being told.
Rapid Weight Loss and a Grim Warning
As her condition worsened, Emile’s weight dropped dramatically — from 8st 5lb to just 4st 8lb in under a year.
Doctors warned she was effectively “starving to death”, despite trying to eat.
She explained:
- She cannot keep food down
- Her body isn’t absorbing nutrients
- Weight loss has become life-threatening
Eventually, her condition became so severe that she was placed on palliative care.
Fighting for More Time
Despite the prognosis, Emile hasn’t given up.
A feeding tube has helped her regain some weight, offering a small but crucial window of hope. She is now trying to access Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) — a treatment that delivers nutrients directly into the bloodstream.
While it’s not a cure, it could extend her life.
A Mother’s Fear
Beyond the medical battle, her biggest fear is leaving her children behind.
“The thought of having to leave my children is horrific… we thought we had all these years.”
She is currently raising funds to pursue private treatment — hoping for more time with her family.
Why This Case Is So Shocking
Conditions like gastroparesis are rare but serious — and often misunderstood.
What started as something as ordinary as feeling sick after breakfast has turned into a life-threatening condition in just over a year.
It’s a stark reminder of how quickly health can change — and how symptoms that seem minor at first can sometimes signal something far more serious.
