I’ve lost the 11th but have sagging skin so I want strangers to pay for £5,000
Jade Morrissey looks at her reflection in the mirror and likes what she sees – everything except the roll of loose skin wrapped around her waist.
And she hopes strangers will donate their money to help her get rid of it.
After losing an incredible 11st, she is only half the size she used to be and although she is much healthier than when she weighed 21st and 4lbs, no amount of weight loss will be enough to make up for the excess.
Jade says the skin removal surgery carried out privately in Britain would cost her £5,500, which she says she cannot afford – and she is not eligible for it on the NHS.
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The final hurdle
The 27-year-old, a carer who lives in Swansea, said: “When I look in the mirror all I see is skin, which looks like a barbell strapped to my stomach.
“I have to wear three sports bras to go to the gym, and tuck the excess skin into my leggings to feel comfortable.
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‘I would have to lose another stone to qualify for surgery on the NHS, which I don’t want to do, and even then the waiting list is so long and causes a lot of skin problems such as pain and rashes.
“I don’t want to take the risk of going abroad, I haven’t heard good things about what can happen in clinics there, so I’m hoping to raise enough money to do it in the UK.
“Although I have lost all this weight and I am very proud of myself, I now have to overcome this final hurdle.”
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‘I don’t dare think about how many calories I ate’
Jade first gained weight in 2022 after eating chocolate and chips for comfort following a miscarriage at seven weeks – at her biggest she squeezed into a size 26.
“It was such a difficult time, I was really depressed,” she explains.
“Most evenings would be a Chinese takeaway, topped off with a tub of ice cream – I dread to think how many calories I ate.
“I really hated looking in the mirror.”
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Traumatizing turning point
Jade’s health soon began to decline and she had multiple health problems, including acid reflux, difficulty walking and shortness of breath.
She finally got a ‘wake-up call’ during an endoscopy in 2022 – during which a camera – which doctors hoped could identify the cause of the reflux – was sent down her throat to her stomach.
Due to her size, Jade was told it would be too dangerous to put her under general anesthesia, so Jade was left “traumatized” after the procedure.
She says: “The turning point really came during the endoscopy: I couldn’t believe I was too big to use anesthesia.
“I realized how much my weight was affecting my life.
“It was such a horrifying experience to have the camera down my throat while I was wide awake.
“It was a big shock.”
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Spurred to action
It spurred her into action and in January 2023, she signed up for the gym and completely changed her diet, making healthy, home-cooked meals from scratch.
She lost a whopping 11 stone in just a year – and has now dropped to 10st 4lb, a slim size 8.
The excess skin causes ‘sweating and irritation’ and she says she is so desperate to get rid of it that crowdfunding is the only way it will happen.
Jade, who is married to 28-year-old Adam, a children’s animator, said: ‘I really hope I can raise this money through people’s donations and this skin can be removed.
”It’s so uncomfortable, but the surgery is very expensive, and I’m also trying to save as much as I can for it, but anything people can donate would be great.
“I don’t expect anyone to make a donation, but if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.
“Luckily my husband Adam doesn’t care about the excess skin and loves me anyway – he just wants me to feel comfortable.
“I sometimes worry about him seeing or feeling the skin, but he doesn’t care, and that’s the most important thing.”
Weight Loss Wonder Woman
Jade and Adam are fans of cosplay and regularly go out in public in superhero costumes – which Jade says was the motivation for losing the last bit of weight.
Now the care assistant regularly goes out dressed as Wonder Woman – while Adam is Captain Marvel.
But she says removing the excess skin will really unleash her confidence.
She explains, “I never had the confidence to dress up or go out in public when I was older.”
“At first it was nerve-wracking to see if people would watch, but I don’t care anymore.
”My husband and I love it, and we go to cosplay events in costume – although I still have to hide the excess skin and wear a gastric band under my costumes.
“Finally having the surgery will be the last piece of the puzzle for me, and I’m so excited.”
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To donate to Jade’s surgery, visit here.