Emilie Cullum, a 36-year-old mother from Hertfordshire, is facing a devastating prognosis after initially attributing her illness to spoiled milk. She has been diagnosed with both Crohn’s disease and gastroparesis, a rare and debilitating condition.

Initial Misdiagnosis and Worsening Symptoms

Ms. Cullum, a mother of three from St Albans, first experienced persistent vomiting after breakfast. After ten days of unrelenting sickness and an inability to keep food down, she sought medical attention. She was initially diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, an incurable inflammatory bowel condition, following a visit to the A&E department.

Despite the initial diagnosis, Ms. Cullum’s symptoms continued to worsen over the following three months, significantly impacting her quality of life and ability to eat with her family.

Second Diagnosis and Dramatic Weight Loss

A private consultation in February 2025 revealed a second, more critical diagnosis: gastroparesis. This rare condition prevents the stomach from emptying properly, leading to severely delayed digestion.

As a result of gastroparesis, Ms. Cullum’s weight has plummeted from 8st 5lb to just 4st 8lb. Doctors estimate she may have less than a year to live. The pain, she explains, originates in her abdomen as the condition disrupts the nerves controlling stomach emptying.

Fundraising for Private Treatment

Friends of Ms. Cullum have launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising £200,000 to fund private total parenteral nutrition (TPN) treatment. This treatment delivers vital nutrients directly into the bloodstream, offering a potential lifeline.

The fundraiser aims to allow Ms. Cullum to receive TPN at home, maximizing her time with her family, including her children who are preparing for their GCSEs. Currently, she requires lengthy hospital stays for fluids, nutrition, and medication via Hickman and PICC lines.

Facing a Difficult Prognosis

Ms. Cullum expressed her heartbreaking fear of leaving her children, describing it as “horrific” and “unthinkable.” She was even told during a hospital stay that she was effectively “forced” anorexic due to her extreme weight loss.

While a jejunostomy has helped her gain some weight, bringing her to just over 5st, she remains critically underweight. Gastroparesis affects the stomach’s muscle movements, impacting its ability to empty properly, and affects over 1.5 million people in the US and up to 4% of people in the UK to some extent.