Mum-to-be and baby ‘fight for their lives’ after Crohn’s disease diagnosis

A pregnant woman and her baby have had to "fight for their lives" after the mum-to-be was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in her second trimester.

Keitha Young was diagnosed with Crohn's, or inflammatory bowel disease, earlier this year. The disease can cause rectal bleeding, diarrhoea, weight loss, nausea, and severe pain. The New Zealand mum-to-be's case was seen as so severe that just a week after being diagnosed with Crohn's, she had her large intestine removed. She was in the second trimester of her first pregnancy at the time. Keitha's family and friends have set up a GiveALittle page to raise some money for Keitha, her husband Brett, and the family's medical bills. They say that due to the severity of the condition, Keitha and her unborn baby have had to "fight for their lives."

"Both Keitha and baby have had to fight for their lives multiple times, and there have been harrowing days when both their survival was on the edge. "Luckily they are real fighters and are staying as strong as possible during this difficult time with the support from her wonderful husband Brett and their families."

At the moment, Keitha is currently back in hospital due to "complications" but her relatives and friends hope that she will make a full recovery. They have already raised almost $15,000 for the New Zealand mum-to-be. Image via GiveALittle.