Young woman, 22, hasn’t been able to eat food since 2010 after tummy bug on India holiday paralysed her stomach

A YOUNG woman hasn’t eaten in six YEARS due to an ultra-rare condition which paralysed her stomach muscles.

Ayllah-Beau Foley, 22, developed gastroparesis aged just 16 after returning from a holiday in India.

Initially, she thought she was suffering from so-called “Delhi belly”. But as she continued vomiting, doctors said she had acid reflux – before going on to decide she had appendicitis.

Her weight had plummeted to less than 6 stone and she was wearing clothes for 10-year-olds when she was finally diagnosed with gastroparesis 18 months later.

Ayllah-Beau, from Cheltenham, was fed through a tiny tube transporting nutrients directly from her jugular vein into her heart until she suffered almost-fatal septicaemia in April – for the fifth time.

Her mum, Chris, explained: “There was a 30 per cent chance of survival.

“We all pulled together as a family and supported each other, but a few days later, once things were looking a bit better that’s when I crumbled.
“It makes you appreciate what you have got.”

Now Ayllah-Beau, who wanted to train as a chef before falling ill, has been forced to switch to a painful tube feeding directly into her bowels – a change which has seen her drop to a size six.

Doctors remain clueless as to why she developed the condition – and various treatments including a gastric pacemaker have failed.

If she were to eat normal food, her stomach would be unable to process it – leaving it undigested and causing her to vomit.

But medics at St Mark’s Hospital in London are now working on a ground-breaking project using stem cells to grow new bowel tissue, which could provide her with a cure in the future.

As a result, despite her difficulties, her family remain positive by raising money for research at St Mark’s Hospital – and have raised nearly £50,000.

Mum-of-seven Chris said: “This is the way forward.

“It is not just for my daughter – it’s for people with bowel cancer. It is such a taboo subject, and the work that they do is outstanding.

“It keeps us all going. She has got so used to it now and she is always smiling and laughing and being upbeat.”

Ayllah’s dad Neil,  a property maintenance worker, will be taking part in the Great North Run to raise money for the hospital project.

He is also currently in the running to win £10,000 more for the charity after he made it through to the final ten of the Mountain Warehouse Charity Challenge.

Ayllah said: “St Mark’s have been part of my family for several years now.

“They work tirelessly to support me and my family so I’m really pleased that as a family we are able to give something back.

“My doctor, Dr Gabe, is amazing and always lifts my spirits with his positive outlook.

“This year has been very tough but it has given me a new found appreciation of life.”

To vote for the family to win £10,000 for charity visit:

To sponsor Neil in the Great North Run visit: