A mum almost died when her unborn son kicked her gastric band off in the womb. Nicola Campbell-Brisland had to have emergency surgery when she was 32-weeks pregnant and doctors told the mum-of-three she was hours from death.
Nicola started to vomit a black substance and needed emergency surgery to remove the dislodged band - saving both her and baby Stephen. Nicola had the gastric band fitted in 2014 in a bid to lose weight and cure diabetes.
The band was removed in the emergency surgery in 2017, and Nicola has since regained the 88lbs she lost and struggles with her mobility. She told the Daily Record: "When I was 32-weeks pregnant, my wee boy kicked my gastric band inside me and dislodged it. I instantly started throwing up something that looked like black coffee grind.
The first time Nicola met Stephen in hospital (Image: Supplied)
"My sister convinced me to go to the hospital and when I got there the doctor said if I had waited until the next day I would have died. I had to have an emergency removal and I was terrified.
"My son and I were a few hours from dying but luckily he held on for another four weeks and was born at 36-weeks."
Nicola, who is also mum to Amy, 17, and Connie, 12, has since been diagnosed with Lipoedema, which causes an abnormal build-up of fat in the legs. She has been told she will need to undergo liposuction.
Nicola lost 40kg with her first gastric band (Image: Supplied)
She now uses a walking stick or wheelchair and needs help to look after her chldren. Nicola said: "Lipoedema has stolen my life from me and If I continue on this way I will be forced to have a double leg amputation.
"I need the treatment to avoid that but to get the treatment I need to lose weight but that is hard to do when I'm in constant pain. I am stuck in limbo.
"I can’t go out alone, I can’t be on my own with my kids and I need help with personal care.
The Lipodema in the back of Nicola's thighs (Image: Supplied)
"I just want to feel happy and alive again, I don't want to be a burden to anyone."
She added: "The online trolling has been horrible, so many people have called me fat and lazy and told me to just get up and exercise. It is not that simple and if it was as easy as that, I would have done it.
"I know it is likely just someone sitting in their house with nothing better to do but it still hurts."
Nicola was due to have gastric sleeve surgery in 2020 but her operation was cancelled when the country went into lockdown. She is still waiting on a date for surgery as the NHS deal with a backlog.
Nicola wants to be able to go walks with husband Iain and kids Amy, 17, Connie, 12, and Stephen, five (Image: Supplied)
A gastric sleeve is irreversible and involves the removal of most of the stomach. Nicola's sister Sophie Bradley, 26, is raising £3,000 for her sister to have private surgery.
Sophie said: "I set up the fundraiser as I want to do anything I can to help Nicola. She has never kept well and now her physical health is really deteriorating.
"But some people have now set up fake profiles to post abuse and it is really horrible. Nicola has really been affected by it.
"We have family helping us and I have a bit of a following online so I'm hoping we can raise the money to help her."
Nicola added: "A gastric sleeve is my only option and the surgery will be life changing. It is not about what I will look like, it is about my health.
"I am really grateful for everything the NHS has done for me but I just can't wait any longer."
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "NHSGGC does not discuss individual case but would like to apologise to patients who have been waiting for an elective procedure which has been postponed.
"While our staff continue to deal with the huge demand currently being placed on our services, we will make every possible effort to offer patients an alternative date at the first opportunity."
Donations to the fundraising page can be made by clicking here.
