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Woman, 21, has not eaten in more than FOUR YEARS due to a rare disease which has destroyed her entire digestive tract

  • Kelly Beckers suffers from chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
  • Arose due to her being born breech and has destroyed her digestive tract 
  • Forced to receive nutritional supplements via an IV line close to her heart
  • If the line becomes infected again, Miss Beckers claims she will likely die
  • She has two ostomy bags to collect faeces and a line to remove bile via her nose 

A woman has not eaten food in more than four years due to a rare life-threatening disease.

Kelly Beckers, 21, from the Netherlands, suffers from chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP), which has destroyed her entire digestive tract.

As a result of the condition, which arose during complications when she was born breech, her intestines and stomach do not work.

Miss Beckers is therefore forced to receive nutritional supplements via an IV-line into an artery close to her heart.

She nearly died on several occasions when the line became infected, leading to life-threatening blood poisoning.

‘If I get sick again now, the chance is high that I will die,’ she said. 

Miss Beckers, whose parents even said goodbye to her the last time she became unwell, is forced to wear two ostomy bags every day to collect her faeces.

Kelly Beckers has not eaten food in over four years due to a life-threatening disease. Pictured in hospital, she receives nutritional supplements via an IV line into an artery close to her heart. She has nearly died several times when this line became infected, resulting in blood poisoning

Miss Beckers suffers from chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, which arose due to complications from being born breech and has destroyed her entire digestive tract. Despite her claims she will likely die if she becomes unwell again, she refuses to let it ruin her life

Speaking of her most recent health scare, Miss Beckers said: ‘In November I was on the edge of death. 

‘An infection started in my line which stops three centimetres away from my heart. 

‘My parents then even said their farewells to me because it looked like I would die.’ 

She only survived due to medics removing the infected line that was causing her blood poisoning just in time.  


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But despite the seriousness of her condition, Miss Beckers refuses to let CIP ruin her life.

‘I’m living life to the fullest and try to get everything out of it,’ she said.

The only thing her disease stops her from doing is eating – which she has not done in four-and-a-half years. 

‘I don’t miss it, because I can’t really picture it anymore. But I do miss the social aspect around it,’ Miss Beckers said.

‘Think of it: What will you do if you want to meet with your friends for a fun day?

‘Everything revolves around food. I can’t partake in that, so often I sit there rather uncomfortable with a cup of light broth.’

The only thing CIP stops Miss Beckers from doing is eating, she claims, which she has not done in four-and-a-half years. She says she misses the social aspect of eating with friends

Miss Beckers has two ostomy bags to collect her faeces, as well as a line running from her nose to remove her bile. Despite the seriousness of her illness, Miss Beckers maintains her independence by living alone with her dog Lyfke and volunteering at a local sport centre 

WHAT IS CHRONIC INTESTINAL PSEUDO-OBSTRUCTION? 

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP) is a rare disease that occurs due to abnormalities in the involuntary muscular contractions of the gastrointestinal tract.

This blocks food from moving through the GI tract and may occur due to damage to the muscles or nerves.

Symptoms include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting 
  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloating
  • Constipation

Symptoms vary from person-to-person depending on the location and extent of the disease.  

Nutritional supplements may be required to prevent weight loss and malnourishment.

CIP can be genetic or occur seemingly at random.

Diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes have also been linked to CIP, as have the infections Chagas disease and Epstein Bar virus.

CIP that is present at birth has been associated with a foetus being exposed to certain toxins. 

The condition may also be brought on by certain medications, such as some classes of antidepressants. 

CIP’s prevalence is unclear. According to some sources, 100 new cases occur every year in the US. The number of sufferers in the UK is unknown. 

There is no specific treatment for CIP.

In mild cases, patients should eat five-to-six small meals a day that are low in fat and fibre.

Medication can help to speed up the rate food moves through the GI tract and eases symptoms.  

Patients who are unable to eat due to the severity of their CIP, may require feeding through a tube directly into the GI tract.

Surgery to remove part of the intestines may also be necessary, however, this can make CIP worse.

Source: National Organization for Rare Disorders 

Despite her ostomy bags and a line running from her nose to remove bile, Miss Beckers is not ashamed of her appearance.

Speaking after last Saturday’s World Ostomy Day, she said: ‘I hope the taboo around ostomy bags gets less and that people dare to ask questions to me instead of just staring.’

Although she is unable to work due to her disease, Miss Beckers goes around schools educating students on CIP and also volunteers at a local sports club.

Since getting her dog Lyfke, she has managed to maintain her independence and even lives alone.

‘It has happened before that I became unwell and my father just got there in time,’ Miss Beckers said.

‘It turned out I suffered from internal bleeding. If I was alone at that moment, I would not have been able to tell the tale.

‘Now with Lyfke I dare to be home alone again. She can warn people if something goes wrong and she helps me around the house.

‘She is only unable to iron my clothes.’

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