Former 90’s pop-star Kelle Bryan has spoken bravely about her agonizing battle with lupus, an incurable immune system illness that can affect any part of the body.
The mum of two has been left so weakened by the disease that she’s unable to hold her beloved children without gloves and is virtually terrified of physical contact with her little ones.
Opening up to Daily Star about her battle, Kelle revealed that she even came close to death last year, after she contracted a virus after her daughter contracted an infection at school that caused her organs to shut down.
“I normally wear a surgical mask and gloves because I'm highly susceptible to infection. My lupus means if I pick up an infection I could die because there is nothing to fight it.
“I can't touch my own children because it could actually kill me.”
Kelle, who is now a lupus awareness campaigner, keen to spread the word about the devastating effects lupus can have on family life, added:
“People know me for being glamorous and going to red carpet events but this isn't anything like that. It's real pain. I've got two kids who have had to watch their mum go through this.”
Kella was first diagnosed with lupus in 2000 and isn't the only celebrity that battles with the disease on a daily basis - singer Selena Gomez and Toni Braxton also suffer.
24-year-old Selena recently cancelled her world tour due to side effects of the disease, that included paralyzing panic attacks and depression.
For more information and advice about lupus, please visit lupusuk.org.