A woman from Wales had to relearn how to swallow after undergoing surgery to remove a tumour from her throat, resulting in her gag reflex being located in her ear. Bella Johnston, 30, started losing weight rapidly at the age of 14, but it took four years for doctors to diagnose her with anorexia and bulimia. After leaving home at 18, Bella was on the brink of death and had a noticeable lump on her neck. However, it wasn’t until she visited the hospital for a burn that doctors discovered a 7cm by 5cm tumour in her neck, requiring immediate surgery.
During the 10-hour operation, surgeons had to remove everything from Bella’s right side as the tumour was wrapping around her jugular nerve and vagus nerve, which controls the digestive system. Part of her nerve was grafted to her ear, leading to her gag reflex now being located there. Bella shared her challenging journey, recounting the difficulties she faced in relearning how to swallow so she could eat again. Through trial and error, along with the help of a speech psychologist, she found a way to swallow by tilting her chin to her shoulder to close her windpipe.
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Bella expressed her determination not to be limited by her diagnosis, stating that she refused to accept the initial prognosis that she would only be able to eat soft foods for the rest of her life. She remembered her teenage years when she abruptly lost a significant amount of weight and struggled with health issues, leading to a misdiagnosis of anorexia and bulimia due to her inability to eat and persistent cough.
Following the surgery to remove the tumour, Bella faced complications such as loss of control over her right arm and partial paralysis of her oesophagus. Subsequent tests revealed that the tumour was cancerous, necessitating six weeks of radiotherapy. Despite initial fears that the cancer had spread to her brain, further examinations offered a glimmer of hope, allowing Bella to return home in September 2014. Over the past decade, she has undergone multiple surgeries to address various issues arising from the initial operation.
Bella’s journey with cancer has been challenging, with lasting effects on her daily life, including difficulties with facial paralysis and limited movement in her mouth and eye. However, she has not let these obstacles define her future outlook. After marking her 30th birthday, Bella is embracing life with a renewed sense of appreciation, acknowledging that she had not previously planned for a future beyond her illness. Despite living with the constant fear of a cancer recurrence, she now looks ahead with renewed hope and a newfound desire to truly live.
As Bella continues her journey of resilience and recovery, her story serves as a poignant reminder of the strength and determination needed to overcome life’s adversities. With each obstacle faced and each setback overcome, Bella’s unwavering spirit shines through, inspiring others to find courage in the face of adversity.