Zoey Wright, from Penryn in Cornwall, battled the condition Ulcerative Colitis for two years. In November 2014, the 22-year-old made the life-changing decision to have ileostomy surgery. Now 10 months on from the procedure, she is in training for her first bodybuilding show. Zoey was told by medics that she needed to have ileostomy surgery - a procedure in which some of or all of the large bowel is removed, and the end of the small bowel is pulled to the outside of the abdomen, forming a stoma. However, after deciding to heal her body herself, Zoey shunned medication and took up bodybuilding. Her health recuperated enough for her to escape the proposed surgery.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Huynh Van Dat, 51, from Saigon, Vietnam, began suffering nosebleeds in 2004 up to four times a day, and his eyes were constantly watering. Doctors said he had a deviated nasal septum and performed surgery, which made no difference. He later had further surgery after the bridge of his nose collapsed - but this also failed to help. Slowly, it emerged that a mystery disease was eating away at his face - and over time, it claimed his eyes, nose, cheeks, and the roof of his mouth. His family were too poor to take him to hospital, his wife said, so now he lies in a makeshift 'tent' made of sheets, in agonising pain. He is unable to see or eat, and can barely talk. But after seeing his case in the local press, leading doctors in the country have now agreed to take on his case.

Support worker Amanda Jessup, from Folkestone, Kent, discovered she was 35 weeks pregnant after going to A&E; with stomach cramps. The 23-year-old gave birth to a healthy baby called Terrance. She thought nothing of gaining two stone in four months, experiencing mood swings, back pain and food cravings. Boyfriend Ben Funnell (pictured together left), 24, also a support worker, rushed her into hospital after she woke up suffering from painful cramps. Amanda (pictured jright while seven months pregnant) did not realise she was expecting and drank alcohol during the pregnancy.

The chef has travelled the world compiling a list of 14 'hero' ingredients, including simple products such as fish and eggs, which he says should take pride of place in everyone's kitchens. In a new TV series Jamie's Super Foods, the father of four unveils tips that can help towards a longer life, such as limiting meat to two portions a week and consuming the majority of your calories in the first half of the day.

Model and Big Brother star Sallie Axl today spoke of her horror at being sent home from hospital with her dead baby in a plastic bag 'like a takeaway'. The 27-year-old, famous for her tattoos and glamour modelling, took to her Facebook page to vent her anger at the treatment she received after miscarrying earlier this year. Seven weeks after the devastating event she claims she was given her child in a box and a plastic bag. Ms Axl also accused staff at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester of treating her with no compassion and claims she nearly died from an infection she contracted after the miscarriage. She wrote on her profile: 'On the 17th of July I received my dead baby at hospital in a box and a plastic bag ...!! With that another bag of medicines and sent on my way home to grieve. My dead baby was treated no more than someone handing me over a takeaway. This is the first time I have been able to talk about this as my ordeal was disgusting.'

Mandy Jarvis, 47, of Southampton, had ballooned to 24 stone after having six children (pictured left). After having chest pains, she was told she needed to slim down. She embarked on a diet and exercise plan and went from 24 stone to 11 stone (pictured right). She lost 11 dress sizes, shrinking from size 32 to size 10, completely changing her outward appearance. But her transformation has left her with a significant apron of skin and bingo wings (pictured top and bottom centre) which leave her in constant discomfort. She has applied for an NHS tummy tuck with the support of her doctor but has been turned down, leaving her devastated. Now, she regrets ever losing weight as her skin looked normal when she was fat. She said: 'There's no denying that I'm much healthier now but sometimes I think I'd be happier if I was fat - at least my skin fitted me.'

Sonny Lang, 22, from Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, has cystic fibrosis, but has been told her body is too weak for another heart and lung transplant, so her prognosis is terminal (she is pictured in hospital, centre). As a baby, Miss Lang suffered a heart attack and her lungs collapsed due to the condition. She underwent a heart and lung transplant at just four years old, the youngest cystic fibrosis patient to ever undergo such a procedure (pictured top left). But after falling critically ill with pneumonia on a holiday to Crete last year, her lungs collapsed and her condition deteriorated. Doctors now say she has the heart and lungs of an 80-year-old, and she will not survive much longer - although it is not known exactly how much time she has. Her family and friends are now trying to raise money for her to fulfill a 'bucket list' of things she wants to do before she dies, including a trip to Disney Land Florida, a hot air balloon ride and a session with a MAC makeup artist. She also wants to learn to drive, watch the WWE wrestling in Leeds and work with elephants. Miss Lang, (pictured bottom left and right) said: 'I always knew I was not going to be around for ever but you just have to make the most of it while you're here. I just want to do a few things everyone would want to do and that I haven't been able to do because of my illness and may not be able to do in the future.'

James Whatley, from Redhill, Surrey, was born with Sotos syndrome, a disorder that causes rapid growth during the early years of life, and is twice the size of other children his age (pictured left and centre with his friend Emma Wells, who is also three). It is believed James will stop growing around the age of puberty but it is predicted he could reach a height of 6ft'7 (2m). The disorder has also given him severe learning difficulties and poor mobility as his muscles struggle to keep up with his bone growth. His mother Michelle, 34 (pictured), who 5'11", said: 'Some people will stare at James because they are not used to his sort of condition. We hope by speaking about it will help raise awareness.'

Kirone McCaffrey, 25, from Dagenham, Essex, had known he was transgender since the age of four (he is pictured, left, as a young girl). In 2009, at the age of 19, he legally changed his name from Kiri to Kirone and began the sex change process. This involved testosterone injections which caused his voice to crack and lower - and triggered the appearance of body hair. For his 23rd birthday, he had breast removal surgery which cost £4,000 (he is pictured after the surgery, right and inset). In 2013, he had the first of three phalloplasty operations, in which a penis was constructed from the skin of his arm. Though it has been a 'long, drawn-out process', he is finally happy with who he is. He said: 'Everything from the body hair to the bulked up body to the surgeries have made me feel like I am finally who I am supposed to be. It was horrifically painful and I needed 11 weeks off work - but the moment I was able to pee standing up, I felt truly masculine.'

'Ticking timebomb' Candice Haines, 31, from Birmingham, had battled severe stomach cramps since she was 12 years old. She also had phases where she was going to the toilet around 20 times a day. Last year she finally confided in her husband Paul, 35, who persuaded her to go to the doctor (she is pictured, left). There,she was quickly diagnosed with Crohn's Disease - a crippling and potentially life-threatening condition that causes the bowel to inflame. Her bowel had become so blocked doctors said it could have perforated at any point. Two weeks ago she was rushed for emergency surgery and had part of her bowel removed - as if it had torn she could have died (she is pictured after the operation, right and inset). Since having the operation she says she is healthier and happier - and wants to warn other never to ignore their symptoms. She said: 'I can't wait to start living my life to the full. I hope my story shows others with crippling bowel problems that you shouldn't hide away. Getting diagnosed quickly can avoid surgery and any long term damage to your bowel.'

A 42-year-old woman arrived at Saint Francis Hospital in Rotterdam with leg sores (pictured bottom left) due to cocaine being cut with Levamisole, known to rot human flesh. Levamisole is normally used as by vets as a livestock de-wormer. Its use in humans was discontinued after its skin rotting effects were discovered (pictured top left and right). It was also found to lower people's white blood count, meaning they catch more infections. Around 80 per cent of cocaine shipped into the US and UK is now cut with Levamisole.

Tory rebel Nadine Dorries is known for her outspoken views. So when she discovered that her hair was falling out, the former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! contestant spoke out with typical frankness to draw attention to the trauma women go through when they suffer alopecia. But while she was widely applauded by many women, including breast cancer sufferers, for drawing attention to the issue, some commentators found her likening her 'confidence-draining' experience to undergoing a mastectomy controversial. Today, Nadine is as forthright as ever, but her blonde tresses are almost back to normal. So what's the secret to Nadine's transformation? A cocktail of vitamin injections to her scalp, wearing a hot water bottle on her head, eating a diet so heavy in red meat that it would make a cowboy proud, and switching to organic hair dyes.

The Nipper family, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, had been enjoying a pool party with friends on July 29 when the tragic accident occurred. Alise Nipper had showed no signs of life when she was pulled from the water, but her determined mother Jamie (pictured inset with Alise and her father Chris) continued with CPR for 12 desperate minutes until there was a heartbeat. Despite suffering from traumatic injuries, less than two months later, Alise defied all expectations to make a full recovery and has even returned to the pool. 'The day we left [the hospital] it was surreal, I felt like I can't believe we lived through this,' said her mother Jamie.

Little Alex Patterson died at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge on April 13, just 30 hours after he first began to show signs of being ill. After a day playing in the park with his parents Sam and Jim, and big brother Callum, right, Alex began to be sick. At around 10pm, his parents noticed a few spots on his skin. Mr Patterson immediately ran a glass over the spots and they failed to disappear - a sign of meningitis. Alex was rushed to hospital where medics diagnosed him with meningitis B. His mother said: 'We called an ambulance and told them we suspected meningitis. But even at that point I didn't actually believe Alex had meningitis, it is not something that happens to you...Meningitis is thankfully very rare,' she said. 'But it does happen and it has happened to us. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to protect children against this disease, this indiscriminate, cruel disease. I want to encourage every parent to take this opportunity, make sure your babies are vaccinated.'

The clip shows Bridget McDonald, who suffers from Korsakoff's syndrome, being labelled a 'tramp', 'hopeless' and 'such a baby' by one carer at The Ridings home (bottom right) in Birmingham. Another carer can be heard threatening the 68-year-old, telling her: 'Next time I call you, don't f****** ignore me' before ripping the duvet from the bed (left; top right). The camera was hidden in a bedside clock by Bridget's daughter Rachael, 37, after she became concerned her mother's behaviour was changing at the end of last year. The two carers caught in the footage - Adam Hunt and Rachel Pritchard - have since been dismissed from their position as care workers, with Mr Hunt also receiving a caution from West Midlands Police for common assault.

Julia Kozerski, from Brookfield, Wisconsin, lost 160 pounds after getting married, but found that her incredible transformation didn't turn her into the 'perfect' person that she had hoped it would. As a way of expressing her emotions, she began to take powerful self-portraits to show her physical and mental struggles.

Tom Bradshaw, 23, from Worksop, was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer in March, and says he won't be alive to watch the 2018 Olympics. After suffering acid reflux and sickness for two years Mr Bradshaw was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease, neuroendocrine cancer, in March this year. With a limited life ahead of him, the 23-year-old is determined to create as many memories with his girlfriend Chelsea Baker and their daughter Willow. The couple have brought forward their plans to marry, and Mr Bradshaw has began recording his voice reading stories to Willow, to ensure his memory lives on after he is gone.

Amethyst Santos, from Manila in the Philippines, was born with her lower lip attached to the base of her mouth, her upper and lower jawbones fused and an underdeveloped lower jaw. She suffers from oromandibular limb hypogenesis syndrome. Pictured (right) before the operation to open her mouth and after (inset). Amethyst her parents Estrellita and Rolando (right) have helped Amethyst flourish. Amethyst was also born with no hands and feet, but has learned to walk, play with her two older sisters - and now she can even smile.