She Thought It Was Just Bloating—Doctors Found Something Far More Dangerous

Earith, Cambridgeshire — Charlotte Kent, a 25-year-old from Earith, Cambridgeshire, is battling superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMA), a rare vascular condition initially mistaken for bloating due to her active lifestyle. Affecting only 0.3% of the U.S. population and an unknown number in the UK, SMA occurs when a major artery compresses the small intestine, causing severe malnutrition, pain, and an inability to keep food down.

Five-Year Struggle with Escalating Symptoms

Once an outgoing gymnast and aspiring police officer, Kent began experiencing bloating and nausea at age 13. Her mother, Leanne Bennett, 46, initially dismissed these as childhood illnesses or growth spurts. By age 20, in February 2020, Kent developed severe right-sided stomach pain, prompting doctors to remove her appendix, hoping to resolve the issue. However, her condition deteriorated, leading to frequent hospitalisations for bowel obstructions, continuous vomiting, and significant weight loss. Over the past five years, she has spent 47 months in hospital beds. Since 2021, Kent has relied on a nasogastric (NG) tube for nutrition, as she can no longer eat normally.

Diagnosis and a Glimmer of Hope

After countless hospital visits yielded no answers, a private radiologist diagnosed Kent with SMA in 2021 through a process of elimination. The condition, also known as Wilkie’s syndrome, involves compression of the duodenum between two blood vessels, blocking food passage and causing severe symptoms. The Alvear procedure, a one-to-two-hour surgery to untwist and reposition the duodenum, offers a potential cure but is not yet available on the NHS. Costing upwards of £30,000 in the U.S., the procedure is a financial burden. Bennett is raising funds via GoFundMe and searching for a UK surgeon to perform the operation, as overseas travel poses significant risks for Kent’s fragile health.

A Mother’s Desperation and a Stolen Future

Bennett, who cares for Kent full-time, described the anguish of watching her daughter fade: “Charlotte is dying before my eyes—her body is just slowing down.”

Kent’s family continues to seek medical options and financial support for the procedure, hoping to secure treatment that could restore stability to her life.

(Rh/Eth/MKB/MSM)