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Merryn Crofts
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[[File:Merryncrofts.jpg|right|200px|Merryn Crofts]] [[File:Times article 26 May 2018.jpg|thumb| ME sufferer who was dismissed as hysterical vindicated in death, The Times, May 26, 2018.]] '''Merryn Crofts''' was a young woman with [[Severe and very severe ME|very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis]] ([[Myalgic encephalomyelitis|ME]]) and also had suspected [[Ehlers-Danlos syndrome]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news | url=https://www.meaction.net/2018/05/19/inquest-rules-merryn-crofts-died-due-to-severe-me/ | title = Inquest Rules Merryn Crofts Died Due to Severe ME - #MEAction | last = Tillman | first = Adriane | date = 2018-05-19|work=#MEAction|access-date=2018-10-27|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/118949/young-woman-from-norden-cause-of-death-attributed-to-myalgic-encephalomyelitis | title = Young woman from Norden cause of death attributed to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis | last = | first = | date = May 18, 2018 | website = Rochdale Online|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2018-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/amycrofts2 | title = Ben Nevis Trek - Fundraising for 25% ME Group for The 25% ME Group on MyDonate|website=MyDonate|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-10-27}}</ref> and [[mast cell activation disorder]]<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> in the later years of her illness. She died on May 23, 2017, 10 days after her 21st birthday. Her symptoms originally began in August 2011 [[Pediatric myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome|when she was 15]], and by the time of her death in May 2017, she had been completely bed-bound for the previous three years, had [[Photophobia|hypersensitivities to light]], [[Hyperacusis|noise]], [[Allodynia|touch]], smell and movement, had [[Gastrointestinal system|gastrointestinal]] hypersensitivities which meant she had to be [[Feeding_tube#Total_parenteral_nutrition|TPN]] fed by a Broviac line, was in total pain, among many more symptoms. An inquest into her death was held on Friday May 18, 2018 at Rochdale Coroner’s Court. The coroner, and multiple medical experts, overwhelmingly agreed that her death was due to starvation due to having to be removed from her Broviac line which was ultimately caused by [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]]. A psychiatrist present stated there was categorically no mental health issues with Merryn and that her illness was ME which is clearly very physical. Other medical professionals present also stated that ME should be her cause of death. The coroner stated that all her gastrointestinal issues were a result of a hypersensitive gut which was caused by ME, so ME is ultimately responsible for her death. Merryn is the second person, and the youngest, in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] after [[Sophia Mirza]] to have ME listed as cause of death. Her family hope the case will show how severe ME can be and that it can help sufferers of ME receive better understanding from the medical profession, and for more UK biomedical research to be conducted. <ref>[https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/bed-bound-unimaginable-pain-watching-14474293 Bed-bound and in unimaginable pain, watching my daughter waste away and die from ME was torture]</ref> Her story was featured in the BBC Newsbeat documentary, [[M.E. and Me]]. Her family also have a Facebook page in her memory where they raise awareness for ME called Merryn's Legacy. == Ganglionitis == [[File:Merry Crofts sick.JPG|250px|thumb|Merryn was bedbound and unable to eat. She weighed under six stone (84 lbs) at her death; her autopsy revealed [[Dorsal root ganglia|ganglia]] [[inflammation]]. It is suspected that in the later years of her illness Merryn also suffered from [[Ehlers-Danlos syndrome|EDS]] and [[Mast cell activation disorder|MCAS]]. Her death certificate is the 2nd in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] to attribute a death to ME.<ref name="Times26May2018">{{Cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/me-sufferer-merryn-crofts-who-was-dismissed-as-hysterical-vindicated-in-death-lq9j2lc7w | title = ME sufferer who was dismissed as hysterical vindicated in death|publisher=The Times | last = Bannerman | first = Lucy | date = May 26, 2018}}</ref>]] * May 18, 2018, [https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/young-woman-bed-bound-three-12559425 Young woman bed-bound for three years before dying of disease that some insist is all in the mind]<ref name=":2">{{Cite news | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/young-woman-bed-bound-three-12559425 | title = Young woman bed-bound for three years before dying of disease that some insist is all in the mind | last = Siddle | first = John | date = 2018-05-18|work=The Mirror|access-date=2018-08-16|quote=|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=}}</ref> <blockquote>Pathologist Daniel DuPlessis said that a post-mortem showed low-grade [[inflammation]] of nerve roots. It was suggested that this inflammation could have made her bowel hypersensitive to processing nutrients.</blockquote><blockquote>Dr DuPlessis pointed out that Merryn had inflammation of the [[Dorsal root ganglia|ganglia]] – gatekeepers to sensations in the [[brain]]. A post-mortem into the only other UK death attributed to ME, Sophia Mirza, 32, in 2006, also found [[ganglionitis]].<ref name=":2" /></blockquote> * May 19, 2018, [https://www.meaction.net/2018/05/19/inquest-rules-merryn-crofts-died-due-to-severe-me/ Inquest Rules Merryn Crofts Died Due to Severe ME]<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.meaction.net/2018/05/19/inquest-rules-merryn-crofts-died-due-to-severe-me/ | title = Inquest Rules Merryn Crofts Died Due to Severe ME | last = Tillman | first = Adriane | authorlink= | date = 2018-05-19 | website = #MEAction|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref> <blockquote>The Rochdale Coroner's Court reported that a post-mortem showed low-grade inflammation of nerve roots. It was suggested that this inflammation could have made her bowel hypersensitive to processing nutrients, reported the [[ME Association|ME association]].</blockquote><blockquote>"[The pathologist] pointed out that Merryn had inflammation of the [[Basal ganglia|ganglia]] – gatekeepers to sensations in the brain. A post-mortem into the only other UK death attributed to ME, [[Sophia Mirza]], 32, in 2006, also found ganglionitis."<ref name=":3" /></blockquote> ==Media coverage== *[https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/bed-bound-unimaginable-pain-watching-14474293 Bed-bound and in unimaginable pain, watching my daughter waste away and die from ME was torture] - Manchester Evening News *[https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/117790/heartbroken-family-tell-of-how-daughter-slowly-died-after-battling Heartbroken family tell of how daughter slowly died after battling ME] - Rochdale Online *[http://www.ladbible.com/community/feels-young-girl-dies-from-illness-some-experts-refuse-to-believe-exists-20180402 Young Girl Dies From Illness Some Experts Refuse To Believe Exists] - LAD Bible *[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/young-woman-dies-after-illness-12288945 Daughter died aged 21 after illness some experts don't believe is real left her bed-bound and wasting away] - The Mirror *[https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5951733/merryn-croft-me-death-inquest-rochdale-illness/ "ABSOLUTE TORTURE" Heartbroken mum reveals how she watched her daughter waste away in "unimaginable pain" while suffering from ME] - The Sun *[https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/6235179/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-me-and-me/ 'Devastating disease Family of girl killed by ME say doctors told her it was all in her head – before it robbed her of everything] - The Sun *[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5569091/Woman-dies-aged-21-weighing-just-six-stone-wasting-away-ME.html Mother releases pictures of daughter who died aged 21 weighing just six stone after wasting away from neurological disease ME that some experts still do not think is real] - Daily Mail *[http://www.itv.com/news/granada/2018-05-11/mother-fights-for-more-awareness-of-m-e-after-her-daughter-died-age-just-21/ Mother fights for more awareness of M.E. after daughter's death aged just 21] - ITV News *[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5748563/Drama-student-21-killed-rules-coroner-say-condition-mind.html#comments Drama student, 21, was killed by ME rules coroner even though some say condition is all in the mind] - Daily Mail *[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/young-woman-bed-bound-three-12559425 Mother fights for more awareness of M.E. after daughter's death aged just 21] - The Mirror *[https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/young-woman-who-spent-years-14678759 Young woman who spent years battling ME died as a result of the "devastating and cruel" illness, inquest hears] - Manchester Evening News *[http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/118949/young-woman-from-norden-cause-of-death-attributed-to-myalgic-encephalomyelitis Young woman from Norden cause of death attributed to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis] - Rochdale Online *[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/me-sufferer-merryn-crofts-who-was-dismissed-as-hysterical-vindicated-in-death-lq9j2lc7w ME sufferer who was dismissed as hysterical vindicated in death] - The Times ==Learn more== *[https://www.facebook.com/MerrynsMagicalFund/ Facebook: 'Merryn's Magical Fund'] == See also == *[[Causes of death]] *[[List of deaths caused by myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome]] *[[Severe and very severe ME]] *[[Dorsal root ganglia]] *[[Pediatric myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome|Pediatric]] *[[Severe and very severe ME]] ==References== {{Reflist}} [[Category:People with ME, CFS, and/or FMS]] [[Category:Deceased people with ME, CFS, and/or FMS]]
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