Strictly dancer in emergency hospital dash as she’s supported by stars after illness forced her out of live show
STRICTLY Come Dancing professional dancer Amy Dowden suffered a terrifying health scare and was rushed to hospital after falling ill.
The 31-year-old was forced to pull out of Saturday night’s live show as she spent the night being cared for by doctors after an “unexpected Crohn’s flare up”.
Her dance partner Tom Fletcher and his wife Giovanna, as well as former star Sara Davies rushed to her rescue while her fiance Ben Jones was working away from home.
Sharing snaps from her hospital bed, Amy told fans: “Thanks for the all messages over the weekend.
“Unfortunately, I was missing from the show as I had an unexpected Crohn’s flare up and hospital admission in which I received unbelievable care.
“I’m recovering very well and certainly being well looked after and look forward to returning to the dance floor.
“Big thanks to lovely @saradaviescc and @tomfletcher for taking care of me (of all the days to be poorly, Ben was in Blackpool with the dance school).
“To the Fletchers who made sure I had everything and more at the hospital, have brought me back to theirs where the whole family are giving me all the love, care, burnt toast (Tom), unlimited supply of @mrsgifletcher clothes along with @tomfletcher sock choice😜 you could possibly need, lots of drawings and pretend injections from my new doctors Buzz, Buddy and Max.
“Thank you, they really were sent to me.”
Last year Amy revealed how hard she’s had to fight the potentially deadly disease to achieve her dream of dancing with crippling Crohn’s.
The condition causes severe inflammation and ulcers in the digestive system and has landed her in hospital more than 100 times.
Amy, 31, said: “Strictly has been more than a dance show to me, it got me through the darkest times of my illness. For me it was a big inspiration to keep me dancing.
“Dancing has pulled me through my Crohn’s but it’s a battle. I live in fear that what I love the most could be taken away.
“And I’ve been more ill this year than I have been in a long time.”
What is Crohn's Disease?
It is a condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system.
The inflammation is the body’s reaction to injury or irritation, and can cause redness, swelling and pain.
It is often described as a chronic condition and although sufferers will have periods of good health, there are flare-ups where symptoms are more active.
It is one of the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease – the other is a condition known as Ulcerative Colitis.
It can be caused by the genes a person has inherited, an abnormal reaction of the immune system and is probably triggered by something in the environment.
Common symptoms include recurring diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping – usually worse after eating and extreme tiredness.
Unintended weight loss and blood and mucus in your stools are also common symptoms.
There is no cure for the disease, so treatment aims to reduce symptoms and maintain remission.
Drugs and surgery can give long periods of relief from symptoms, and some may cause temporary weight gain.
