A WOMAN whose face and body swell up and balloon because of a rare illness hopes new stem cell treatment available in the US could rid her of the condition.

Christie Newport, 33, is virtually housebound after bullies taunted her with the nickname "rubber dingy lips", leaving her contemplating suicide.

She now hopes to raise 12,000 to pay for new specialist treatment in Califirnia.

Christie's lips, stomach, arms and legs have gradually bloated due to Melkersson Rosenthal syndrome. But a range of procedures and medicines in the UK, including plastic surgery on her lips, all failed.

The US treatment costs a minimum of 12,000, but its arrival has left Christie determined to beat the condition. She said: "I have one of the worst cases there is and I just don't feel like I have a life any more.

"It's like it has been stolen by my illness. I'm prepared to do anything to get the treatment because I can't live like this. If I could avoid living like this I would do it tomorrow."

Christie, from Ashton-on-Ribble, Lancs, was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 18, despite dealing with symptoms since childhood.

Her health has worsened to the point her airways swell and she has problems with her lungs and extreme pain and now has type two steroid induced diabetes and a paralysed right diaphragm. She is also infertile.

She said: "It's spread through my body now and I am lucky if I can get a couple of hours out of bed in the day. It has made me realise how limited my life has become."

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Woman left housebound and suicidal by rare illness that has made her face and body "balloon"