Obese woman whose dramatic 55kg weight loss left her with massive skin folds to fly to the U.S. for surgery after generous strangers agree to pay the $9,000 bill

  • Elora Harre went from a size 24 to 14 after losing 55kg in just two years  
  • The 21-year-old made a public plea in February for donations to fund surgery for skin removal  
  • Now 400 donors have pledged cash to fund the operation in Beverly Hills
  • She turned her life around at 19, after fears of diabetes or an early death
  • The New Zealand woman is a weight-loss blogger and has 20,000 followers

A 21-year-old woman who battled two years of obesity will make the trip of a lifetime to the U.S. for excess skin removal surgery, thanks to kind online donors and a Beverly Hills doctor.

Elora Harre, from Canterbury in New Zealand, went from a size 24 to 14 and documented her inspiring transformation, during which she lost 55 kilograms (120 pounds), to her 20,000 Facebook followers on The Shrinking Violet page.

It was reported in February that she wrote a heart-warming letter to the Head of Christchurch Hospital and Health Minister, after a plastic surgeon at the hospital told her they didn't have the 'resources' to remove her excess skin.

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Elora Harre said during her weight-loss  - 'no surgery, supplements, shakes or quick-fixes' were involved

Elora Harre said during her weight-loss - 'no surgery, supplements, shakes or quick-fixes' were involved

Ms Harre will undergo surgery in the next few weeks to remove excess skin
Ms Harre will undergo surgery in the next few weeks to remove excess skin

The New Zealand woman turned her life around at the age of 19, after fears of diabetes or an early death

The rejection spurred Ms Harre's older sister Lydia to launch Give a Little fundraising page in the hope of raising enough cash to fund a private procedure.

Now thanks to Daily Mail Australia and a global media storm, Beverly Hills doctor Cat Begovic has agreed to waive her usual fee of $11,000, for full frontal abdominoplasty surgery.  

The operation will cost $US6800 ($9300) for hospital fees and aftercare, with the rest of the $12,415 Give a Little money going towards flights and accommodation.

When she was 19, she decided to turn her life around because she was afraid of having an early death

When she was 19, she decided to turn her life around because she was afraid of having an early death

The weight-loss blogger, who turned her life around by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, said she has been carrying ‘loose skin’ on her stomach, inner thighs, calves, lower back, arms, breasts and armpits, and the surgery will 'change her life'.

Ms Harre is leaving New Zealand on August 18, and the six-hour surgery will be performed the following Wednesday, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

In the week before the surgery, she will undergo a range of tests including cardiac and psychological health tests.

Ms Harre has penned a heart-felt letter to the hospital and Health Minister in a bid remove her 'loose skin'

Ms Harre has penned a heart-felt letter to the hospital and Health Minister in a bid remove her 'loose skin'

Ms Harre has been focussing on her health in preparation for the surgery, as she will have three weeks of recovery time before being able to fly home.

'I'm making sure I'm going to Crossfit five days a week at the moment. I'm going to need to have really strong legs and really strong arms because I'm not going to be able to engage my abdominal muscles very well after the surgery,' Ms Harre told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Her partner will be with her for one week before the surgery and two weeks of her recovery time, which Harre is paying for herself.

She told her followers that she doesn't share her weight as she believes it stops people comparing to her

She told her followers that she doesn't share her weight as she believes it stops people comparing to her

She was 19 when she decided to turn her life around after having fears of suffering diabetes or an early death

She was 19 when she decided to turn her life around after having fears of suffering diabetes or an early death

Despite the distance, she says the support she receives from her supporters will make all the difference.

'It'll be like having a taste of home when I'm over there. All my followers are so important to me, and everyone's so supportive and excited for me.

'People can come out of surgery and be quite emotional, people wonder if they've done the right thing but I know if I get down, they'll be there.'

On her official The Shrinking Violet blog, she revealed how she turned herself to comfort food after her father passed away from terminal cancer when she was 10.

Ms Harre said she found herself eating fast-food such as Burger King, McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut at least 'once every single day'.

'People used to laugh when you mention being addicted to fast food, like it was ludicrous and that you could only ever be addicted to drugs or alcohol,' she wrote on her blog.

'But the endorphins you receive from eating something so laced with processed sugar that your body thinks tastes amazing becomes incredibly addictive.'

Elora Harre went from a size 24 to 14 after losing 55kg in just two years from eating healthy and exercising

Elora Harre went from a size 24 to 14 after losing 55kg in just two years from eating healthy and exercising

Ms Harre claims she never shares her weight online because she believes it 'stops people comparing their journey' to herself.

'We are all different and lose weight differently,' she said on her Facebook. 

Along with her regular updates, Ms Harre shares her healthy-eating recipes and offers weight-loss seminars, 10-week challenges, eBooks, a support group and a 'range of other things for those wanting to embark on their own journey'.

The weight-loss blogger turned her life around by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet everyday

The weight-loss blogger turned her life around by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet everyday

 The 21-year-old was told the surgery would change her life but she has been denied the public health care

 The 21-year-old was told the surgery would change her life but she has been denied the public health care

Elora Harre, from Canterbury in New Zealand went from a size 24 to 14, during which she lost 55 kilograms

Elora Harre, from Canterbury in New Zealand went from a size 24 to 14, during which she lost 55 kilograms

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