35st woman stuck in \ from medway council tax benefit Watch Video

⏲ Duration: 3:26
👁 View: 285K times
✓ Published: 03-May-2024

Description:
A chronically disabled woman has said she would rather die than continue to live in the cramped kitchen she calls her “prison”.<br/><br/>Illa Smyth, who is 35st, is confined to eat, sleep and wash in the 13ft square ground floor room because her weight means that she struggles to get up or squeeze through doors.<br/><br/>The 54-year-old said the last time she left her terrace home in Gillingham, Kent, was to go to the hospital when she had to be assisted out by paramedics into an ambulance.<br/><br/>She has been isolated to one room as her health deteriorated over the last 20 years and she is unable to climb stairs.<br/><br/>Medway Council did grant £30,000 towards improvements in 2013, but Illa and husband Alan say they were told that this would not be enough to cover all the works needed.<br/><br/>The former McDonald’s children’s party organiser, who initially developed endometriosis and suffered several falls in skiing and horseriding accidents, has undergone at least 11 operations.<br/><br/>Illa suffers from gout, has arthritis in her joints and is incontinent.<br/><br/>Unable to walk unassisted the once fit and active woman has piled on the pounds and now weighs around 35 stone.<br/><br/>Illa has looked into having weight reduction surgery but says she is on a “waiting list for a waiting list”.<br/><br/>Fighting back tears, she said: “If I go to bed and don’t wake up that would be a good thing.<br/><br/>“I have been housebound for what feels like forever. I have arthritis, gout, eczema and depression.<br/><br/>“I sometimes think suicide is a good option.<br/><br/>\