35-stone mum crowdfunds for weight loss surgery as she fears she may die before turning 40
A 35-stone woman is crowdfunding for weight loss surgery amid fears that she may die before turning 40.
Leyla Clelland from Birmingham, West Midlands, struggles with daily tasks such as shaving her legs, tying her laces and walking short distances.
The single mum says she no longer 'feels human' and is scared of falling asleep incase she doesn't wake up.
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Leyla said that she joined the NHS waiting list for weight loss surgery in 2017, but had no luck.
After getting on the list, she claimed that the hospital allegedly told her 'to wait' and that they would get in touch with her.
But she claims that she hasn't received a response.
Leyla is now attempting to fundraise £10,000 to have the procedure done privately.
The 34-year-old said: "I feel that weight loss surgery is my last resort and if I don't get this help, I may die by 40.
"I don't want to die. I want to be here to see my children, see them have children and get married and be happy.
"I used to be able to do a lot of things and walk to a lot of places. I just want my life back.
"I have a special toilet in place because I can't reach to wipe myself because my weight has affected me that much that I can't reach behind me now.
"I go to bed and I'm scared I won't wake up in the morning, I have nightmares about it. I'm terrified of going to sleep so I stay up all night.
"I've had friends tell me that when I've stayed at their house I'll be asleep and all of a sudden they wouldn't hear me breathing even for like 60 seconds and then they hear me again. That frightens me and is why I'm so scared of going to sleep."
She explained: "I've been bullied throughout school. There was only one boy that used to do it but everyone used to laugh along with him. He used to call me 'fat b**ch' and put me down all the time.
"At the age of 19, I started eating more because I was so depressed, I didn't know what else to do. I was comfort eating.
"I'd eat takeaways almost every day because I didn't enjoy cooking. I didn't enjoy it because I didn't have my child there to cook for as well, so it didn't feel right because I was used to cooking two meals, not one."
The single mum also said she doesn't use public transport anymore because people would harass her.
"I don't use public transport anymore because sometimes when I'm sitting on a bus and the kids get on, they throw stuff at me and call me names like 'beached whale'," Leyla added.
"If I'm walking along the street people shout out 'fat c**t' to me.
"It makes me feel horrible. It just makes me feel like I don't want to go out anymore, that's why I don't leave my house because I know as soon as I do, I'm being judged and I don't want to be like that anymore.
"I don't go out. The only time I leave my house is at nighttime to go shopping or if I want to go to the Bingo, because I like that sometimes.
"When people are calling me names I think to myself - you don't know my story, why are you judging me?"
She hopes that the surgery will enable her to live a healthier and happier life.
"I'm looking forward to having the experience of losing weight, achieving my goal and showing people that I can do it." she said.
"I just eat breakfast, lunch and dinner now. In between I do have little snacks but don't eat loads like I did before.
"I'm looking forward to being able to find someone that I can be with forever, being able to do things for myself and to stop being a burden on people.
"Having the surgery and funds to have it would mean everything to me.
"I'd be able to one day get a job and be happy. It would mean that I can have a happy life, can see my children grow up and that my health would drastically improve."
If you would like to donate to her GoFundMe, click here.
Tyla have contacted NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB for comment.
Anish Vij