'If they hadn't have removed my colon that day, I might have died': Woman, 31, shares her devastating battle with Crohn's disease - as she prepares to give birth to her first child

Keitha Young, 31, from Auckland, had a blissful first trimester while pregnant
However, she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease - and had her colon removed
Keitha's baby miraculously remains healthy at 25 weeks; she is due in March
Keitha spoke to FEMAIL about her devastating battle - as she slowly gets better

By Sophie Haslett For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:36 GMT, 17 December 2017 | Updated: 16:56 GMT, 17 December 2017

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When Keitha Young started feeling 'really unwell' in her second trimester of pregnancy, the 31-year-old from Auckland headed to the doctor.

And while medical professionals originally thought she was struggling with gastro, in fact Keitha had undiagnosed Crohn's disease.

Now, the soon-to-be mother and her unborn baby are fighting for their lives.

As she slowly gets on top of the disease, Keitha spoke to FEMAIL from her home, after she left the hospital.

Keitha Young (pictured), 31, from Auckland, has been battling Crohn's disease in hospital while carrying her first child

While doctors originally thought it was gastro, they later found out it was Crohn's disease and the 31-year-old (pictured) had to have her colon removed

As she slowly gets on top of the disease, Keitha spoke to FEMAIL after she returned from the hospital to her home (pictured with her partner)

According to Keitha (pictured), things were all fine and 'blissful' during the first trimester - however, she started to feel 'really unwell' during her second

According to Keitha, things were all fine and 'blissful' during the first trimester:

'In my second trimester, I became really unwell,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

What is Crohn's disease?

* Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus.

* Signs and symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), fever and weight loss.

* While the cause of Crohn's disease is unknown, it is believed to be due to a combination of environmental, immune, and bacterial factors in genetically susceptible individuals.

* It results in a chronic inflammatory disorder, in which the body's immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract possibly directed at microbial antigens.

'Originally, they thought it was gastro, but it turned out to be c-diff bacteria that had got out of balance in my bowel.'

This was due to 'suppressed immunity in pregnancy' and problems with the clostridium difficile - also known as c diff - or bacteria located in the gut.

Keitha had been losing half a litre of blood per day.

'After several MRI scans, endoscopies and X rays, within five days I was admitted to emergency surgery,' she explained.

'The doctors intended to do keyhole surgery to see what was happening in my bowel, but when they got in there and saw it was so badly damaged, they had to do a full colectomy and remove my whole colon, while I was 14 weeks pregnant.'

'If they hadn't have removed it that day, I might have died.'

Keitha now has an ileostomy bag in place.

But doctors soon found the 31-year-old had been losing half a litre of blood a day (pictured in hospital) - she had to have her colon removed and now has an ileostomy bag

'If they hadn't have removed it that day, I might have died,' she admitted (pictured with her partner)

The 31-year-old - who founded the Seed Freedom Food Festival - has since been recovering in hospital, while her baby, thankfully, maintains a healthy heartbeat

'I've been in a lot of pain, but at least our baby has been okay during the whole experience and is still going strong at 25 weeks,' she said

The 31-year-old - who founded the Seed Freedom Food Festival - has since been recovering in hospital, while her baby, thankfully, maintains a healthy heartbeat:

'I've been in a lot of pain, but at least our baby has been okay during the whole experience and is still going strong at 25 weeks,' she said.

'It was hard right after the surgery. I was in hospital for 19 days, and had to re-learn how to breathe, eat and walk after the surgery.'

The next stage for both Keitha and her unborn baby is 'rest and recovery':

'My days consist of making sure that I eat well and regularly, balanced with rest and doing my physio exercises so I can walk properly and build up my strength to take care of this baby in a few months,' she said.

Keitha and her partner, Brett Young, are expecting their baby on 24 March.

Keitha and her partner, Brett Young, are expecting their baby on 24 March (pictured together in hospital)

A friend of Keitha's from high school, Rose Worley, has set up a Give A Little donation page to help the family through the difficult time

'We have been overwhelmed with the kindness of our community,' she said. 'Some days, we just cried from the generosity of our friends and family,' (Keitha pictured in hospital)

A friend of Keitha's, Rose Worley, has since set up a Give A Little page, to support the family as Keitha returns to health.

At present, friends, family and strangers have raised more than $22,000:

'We have been overwhelmed with the kindness of our community,' she said. 'Some days, we just cried from the generosity of our friends and family.

'It has truly helped to take the edge off financial stress for us, as we've both been off work for the past three months and our saving plan for having a child has gone out of the door.

'We're very thankful to everyone who has gifted us this immense support.'

If you would like to donate to Keitha Young's Give A Little page, please click here.