'Cuddling my kids could kill me': Eternal's Kelle Bryan breaks down on Loose Women after revealing she needs gloves to touch her children due to battle with lupus

By Julia Pritchard for MailOnline

Published: 11:00 EST, 7 November 2016 | Updated: 15:57 EST, 7 November 2016

She has been battling a severe case of lupus since 1999.

But Kelle Bryan admitted on Monday that the condition has progressed to a point where she can't touch or interact with her own kids without protection.

The Eternal singer, 41, broke down on ITV's Loose Women as she revealed that she has to wear gloves to touch her son Reegan and daughter Kayori, and that cuddling them could even be fatal. 

Scroll down for video

Heartbreaking: Kelle Bryan, 41, broke down on Loose Women as she revealed that she has to wear gloves to touch her kids Reegan and Kayori, and that cuddling them could even be fatal

Suffering: Kelle, who rose to fame in pop group Eternal, has been suffering with Lupus since 1999 - and has revealed it now has serious repercussions on her family life

Talking intimately about the awful disease, Kelle confessed she has suffered 'arthritis symptoms, hair loss and ulcers' as side effects, and that the condition has now affected her personal life too.

She said tearfully: 'I have to wear gloves to touch my children, and sometimes I can't touch them at all.'

The singer was first diagnosed with Lupus, an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, after her girlband Eternal performed at Party in the Park.

Draining: Talking intimately about the awful disease, Kelle confessed she has suffered 'arthritis symptoms, hair loss and ulcers' as side effects

A low point in life for the former Italia Conti student, the diagnosis coincided with her departure from pop group Eternal and her parents' divorce.

When panelist Linda Robson had asked if her low feelings had affected her health, Kelle confirmed: 'Absolutely. Lupus is brought on by stress.'

Things took a more frightening turn in summer of this year however, when the mother-of-two came close to death after contracting a virus that caused her organs to shut down.

Serious condition: Things took a frightening turn in summer of this year, when the mother-of-two came close to death after contracting a virus that caused her organs to shut down

Near miss: Explaining the ordeal, Kelle revealed she began to deteriorate when her daughter icked up a meningococcal virus at school

Kelle explained to the panel that the ordeal first began when her daughter picked up a meningococcal virus at school - before the singer was rushed to hospital 48 hours later.

She recalled: 'I was coughing up blood from a cold to pneumonia, because my child had this infection.'

Kelle vented her frustration to the Daily Star at the time, stating : '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.'

Terrifying: The lupus then spread to her brain, causing her to suffer a seizure and harrowingly lose three days of her life

Worryingly Kelle's organs and kidneys began to shut down, so doctors were forced to administrate adrenaline to kick-start her body.

The lupus then spread to her brain, causing her to suffer a seizure and harrowingly lose three days of her life.

She continued: 'I was awake and functioning but have no recollection of this time... then they realised I had lupus on my brain.'

Thumbs up from me! However things are looking up for the singer, who revealed a recent scan showed no signs of the infection on her brain

Adding that the ordeal affected her mentally as well as physically, bringing on bouts of paranoia, she said of the disease: 'It alters the way you think and function so you’re not really in control of your thoughts and the anxiety creeps up and up.'

However things are looking up for the singer, who remains hopeful since a positive scan result in recent weeks. 

She explained: 'After my most recent scan, the lupus is not on my brain which is really nice news, and I've got six months before I start chemotherapy.' 

Enjoying life: Kelle tries to live life to the fullest with her husband Jay Gudgeon and their two children Reegan and Kayori

However, she still admitted that awareness of the disease needs to be spread, as many remain in the dark about the devastating affects it can have on a person'a life.

She added to the panel: 'There's no understanding or compassion for lupus, people just don't understand it.'

Kelle rose to fame in pop band Eternal alongside best friend Louise Redknapp - but was sacked by her fellow members Easther and Vernie Bernett by fax in 1997. 

The singer is now showbiz agent to actors, including former Eastender Ricky Norwood. 

Spreading the word: However she still wants to fight for more awareness of the disease, admitting: 'There's no understanding or compassion for lupus, people just don't understand it'

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (52)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now