31 May 2023 , 15:34
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A woman who documented her heartbreaking anorexia struggle has tragically died.
Amy Ellis from Broughton, Flintshire, grew a following of more than 140,000 on TikTok, where she shared her experience of the disease.
The 43-year-old joined the platform in a bid to raise £200,000 for specialist medical treatment after claiming she never received appropriate help for the illness on the NHS.
On Monday, May 22 an update posted on Amy's TikTok account, @savingamycymru, read: "Amy has taken her butterfly wings and flown to her next life. Amy taught us so much. Thank you for all your help and support, it meant the world to her as she did what she could to get the specialist help that she was asking for."
The tragic news of her death came just a day after she posted a video on her account saying she was feeling unwell and telling followers she was "scared", reports Wales Online.
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The former charity worker and artist, who had food issues since childhood, said her symptoms were regularly misunderstood by doctors as depression or a "way of life". Although she was offered community mental health support, she said it did not target eating disorders.
The former charity worker and artist, who had food issues since childhood, said her symptoms were regularly misunderstood by doctors as depression (handout)At one point Amy described an "undignified" ordeal in which she was sectioned at a unit that did not specialise in her condition. There she said she was left for hours in her own mess as she waited for her commode to be changed.
After following a prescribed food plan, she also detailed an agonising time when she developed refeeding syndrome, a painful and life-threatening condition triggered when food is suddenly reintroduced after a period of starvation.
At one point Amy described an "undignified" ordeal in which she was sectioned at a unit that did not specialise in her condition (handout)
Ever since Amy Ellis can remember, she has had a disordered relationship with foodAt the time, a spokesman for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said their specialist adult eating disorder service "provides highly specialist interventions and treatment for moderate to severe eating disorders" and each patient "is provided with a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment and treatment plan based on their unique presentation and difficulties".
However, Amy said she got to a point where she feared anorexia would kill her if she did not receive specialist treatment, which is not available on the NHS. Amy's cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Speaking in July 2022, Amy said: "I want to get better [at the specialist clinic] and then carry on helping other people. I want SavingAmyCymru to turn into a charity.
Amy eventually needed a stick to aid walking (handout)"I know I can reach so many more people than eating disorder charities to help people because I'm already doing it through my TikTok, but helping other people has got to start with me. I've got to raise this money and get better. I cannot help others from the grave."
A GoFundMe page set up to help Amy raise funds for specialist treatment raised more than £12,000.
Before she died, Amy shared a video from her bed telling supporters just she had been unwell. She described being unable to stand up and that she "kept thinking of the worst".
Before she died, Amy shared a video from her bed telling supporters just she had been unwell (handout)In the clip she said: "I'm scared, I don't know what's happening. What have I got?". Although fans sent words of encouragement and urged her to visit a hospital, her family later confirmed her passing in a video on her account.
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In response thousands of supporters shared their condolences and thanked her for raising awareness of anorexia. One person wrote: "Amy you were such a beautiful person, I’ll miss you lighting up my screen. Rest in peace beautiful lady."
Another said: "I’m so incredibly sorry for your loss, Amy lived an inspiring life." A third wrote: "Rest in peace Amy u helped me with my eating disorder and helped me pave the way for other people. My serious condolences."