It sounds like a bad joke. But Johanna Watkins really is allergic to her husband in the truest sense of the word. The reason is a rare immune disease.
Photo: Facebook / Scott Watkins
The condition in which Johanna Watkins suffers is called mast cell activity syndrome (MCAS). The cells in her body, which are supposed to protect Johanna from environmental influences, mutate and attack her body instead. This in turn means that Johanna is allergic to almost everything. Her husband Scott is now one of them.
In 2013, when Scott and Johanna got married, it was not nearly as bad as it is today. At that time, Johanna's disease "only" expressed through symptoms such as irritable bowel, rashes and migraine attacks. But it should not stay that way. Johanna's condition worsened over the years, however, as soon as Scott came near her.
To the British TV channel BBC Johanna said: "We realized that I felt worse and worse as soon as Scott entered the room." Once Scott came home after a hairdressing visit, Johanna had anaphylactic symptoms. For the couple, this meant that they could not continue their lives as before. "It was a terrible reality that it just would not work anymore, " says Johanna.
There is currently no treatment option for MCAS. Johanna Watkins has already undergone four chemotherapy treatments. An improvement in her symptoms, however, did not occur.
Currently, the 29-year-old lives alone in a room in the loft in the house of friends while her own house is being renovated to make it safe for her. The windows and doors are locked to keep germs out. In addition, the air is cleaned by filters. Johanna does not see her husband anymore. The two can only talk on the phone or chat. In the same room they can not stop because of Johanna's illness. Johanna has not left her room for a year, except to go to the hospital.
In the meantime, only Johanna's siblings can visit her if they take certain precautions. But even if they visit them, the 29-year-old is worse off afterwards.
Although Scott lives in the same house, but three stories below his wife. He also cooks for her. The two dishes that Johanna can eat, he prepares in turn for them. Overall, Johanna tolerates only 15 different foods - spices included.
Despite illness: couple stays together
A separation is still out of the question for Johanna and Scott Watkins. The couple sticks to their relationship and does not want to give up their love. Johanna said in an interview with the BBC, "On our wedding day, we promised each other that only death will separate us, no matter what life holds for us."
Scott admits that the situation is "frustrating, " but he also sticks to his wife. "Johanna and I are good at talking, we talk a lot, we try to communicate a lot, so one thing that helps us both to tell ourselves as well as possible what's going on in our lives is because we're not can see."
The fact that Scott is always close to her helps Johanna deal with her situation.
The couple as well as their relatives and friends pray that Johanna will eventually get better. Also we wish the couple all the best for the future.
