Once dubbed 'Britain’s fattest teenager,' 34st Malissa Jones hit the headlines in 2008 aged 17 when she became the youngest person in the UK to have a gastric bypass.
She went on to lose 22st but, as a result of her weight-loss surgery, she suffered vomiting and developed a food phobia, causing her weight to plummet further.
Malissa fell pregnant in November 2010, but her inability to eat properly during her pregnancy made her so ill that her baby, Harry, was born prematurely and, tragically, he didn’t survive.
When Closer last spoke to 5ft 8 Malissa in May 2011, three months after she lost Harry, she weighed just 8st – 2st of which was excess skin – and had been diagnosed with anorexia.
But Malissa is now beating her eating disorder and exclusively tells Closer she’s pregnant again – and is determined to eat healthily this time.
'All I’ve ever wanted is to be a mum – I have to conquer my anorexia so my dream will come true'
Malissa, 22, from Selby, North Yorkshire – who’s now 10 weeks pregnant – says: 'I’ll never get over losing Harry, but I’m overjoyed to be expecting again. All I’ve ever wanted is to be a mum – I have to conquer my anorexia so my dream will come true.'
Shockingly, Malissa weighed 20st by the age of just 15 due to a diet consisting of takeaways and chocolate.
By the time she was 17, she had reached a massive 34st – giving her a BMI of 72.4, nearly three times the upper healthy limit.
In January 2008, Malissa underwent a risky £10,000 NHS gastric bypass – during which her stomach was stapled to make it smaller.
She went on to lose 22st over the following 14 months, dropping to 12st. But she struggled with vomiting – a known side effect of surgery – and also developed a fear of gaining weight, meaning she started restricting her food intake.
In June 2010, Malissa met her boyfriend, Chris, 23, and accidentally fell pregnant four months later.
Although doctors advised her to have a termination because her expanding womb could put pressure on her gastric surgery scars – potentially causing a life-threatening stomach rupture – Malissa refused. She explains: 'I’d always wanted to be a mum.'
'I was really worried about affecting the baby, but I was too ill to make myself eat.'
But the combination of morning sickness and worrying about her pregnancy weight meant Malissa found it even harder to eat and, by the time she was four months pregnant, her weight had dropped by an additional 2st to 10st 4lbs.
The former admin assistant, who hasn’t been well enough to work since her operation, says: 'I could only manage cereal or a few vegetables a day because I felt so sick and I was terrified of getting big again. I saw doctors, but tests never showed a problem.
'I was really worried about affecting the baby, but I was too ill to make myself eat.'
Malissa’s eating habits took their toll and, at six months pregnant, she collapsed with dehydration and was taken to hospital. Tests showed her immune system was so weak, she’d contracted septicaemia and doctors had no choice but to perform an emergency Caesarean – 13 weeks before her due date.
Heartbreakingly, her son Harry – who weighed just 16oz – died 57 minutes after he was born. And terrifyingly, the septicaemia also caused Malissa to lapse into a coma for four weeks.
She recalls: 'I never even got to hold Harry. I felt so empty – I was heartbroken.'
Once back home from hospital, devastated Malissa pored over photos of Harry and existed on tiny portions of mashed vegetables. Her weight continued to plummet and when she reached a dangerously low 5∂st, doctors diagnosed her with anorexia.
Malissa – who’s awaiting counselling – says: 'I was hospitalised at least twice a month for about 10 months
and fed through a drip. I didn’t want to go on.'
But when Malissa’s periods stopped because of her low weight, she became terrified she’d never be able to have a baby and, in December 2011, started forcing herself to eat more.
As well as tucking into bigger portions of meat and vegetables, she also started treating herself to chocolate again to increase her calorie intake to 1,500 a day.
She says: 'I knew if I wanted a baby I had to eat. It was so hard, but I was prescribed anti-sickness pills and dry foods like toast helped when I had bad days. Some days, I was still physically sick – I still am – but the hope of becoming a mum helped me cope.'
'Doctors fear there’s a 50/50 chance that my stomach could rupture during late pregnancy which could kill me and my baby if born prematurely'
Ten weeks ago Malissa – who’s weight had hit 9st – discovered she was pregnant and admits it was a huge shock as her periods had only recently returned.
She says: 'I cried when I found out – I was petrified something would go wrong again but, at the same time, I was happy to have another chance.'
Malissa – who currently weighs 9st – says: 'I know there are risks. Doctors fear there’s a 50/50 chance that my stomach could rupture during late pregnancy which could kill me and my baby if born prematurely, but I’ll be monitored closely.
'Having a baby means so much – it’s a second chance at happiness. I still have worries about putting on weight and getting sick. On the days I feel ill, I live on toast, yoghurts and rice cakes – but I usually eat around 2,000 calories a day now. It’s getting easier.'
Chris – who’s given up his farming job to look after Malissa – has proposed and the pair plan to marry in August.
Malissa says: 'Sometimes I still believe I was happier fat. But I’m determined to get well now and be a brilliant wife and mum.'