A SINGLE mother who says her 38KK breasts are "destroying her life" will continue to fight for NHS-funded breast reduction surgery.
Kim Mills, 32, of Trenchard Crescent, north Springfield, says her chest is so heavy she struggles to bathe her four-year-old daughter Alyssa-Mae, push her on a swing and even sit down.
After being diagnosed with arthritis of the spine in May, she applied for funding from the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group but was denied this month.
"The arthritis is going to continue to rob me of years off my life and that is why I will continue to fight," said Miss Mills. "It's destroying my life, and not only my life, it's taking years out of my children's life.
"Whether it's five months or five years, who knows, the arthritis is going to cripple me possibly to the point that I can't get out of bed."
The mother-of-two, who moved to Chelmsford eight years ago, has struggled with the size of her breasts since she was teenager.
The office worker admits her body size probably caused her arthritis. She weighed 19 stone 8lbs at her heaviest, but she has lost five stone since January.
She wrote to the CCG via her GP in March asking for funding but was told she must prove why she is an exception to similar prospective patients.
On May 2, however, she was diagnosed with arthritis after her GP sent off X-rays for examination.
"It was a huge shock but it was bittersweet as the GP said they would then have to do the breast reduction surgery to reduce the weight on my spine," said Miss Mills.
When her application was refused on Friday, June 6, with the same reason, she approached the national press, attracting support across the world, as well as online abuse.
An Egyptian woman has even donated £10 to a fundraising page, amounting to £60, set up by colleague Lorelle Toomey to fund the £5,000 cost of private surgery.
"I just think that's really lovely," said Miss Mills.
Breast reduction surgery, unlike cosmetic enhancements which Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said last week should not be paid for by the taxpayer, is available on the NHS depending on the local CCG panel. The NHS nationally spent £3.5 million on 790 breast implants last year alone.
Miss Mills, who says a friend had reduction surgery funded in Berkshire, added: "I thoroughly believe that the pot has been bled dry in Essex for cosmetic purposes, that's totally why it is. I thoroughly believe I'm entitled to have that done. I've never asked for anything before and I've always paid my taxes."
Miss Mills has appealed against the Mid Essex CCG's decision with the clinical reviewing group which is expected to consider the case on Wednesday.
A spokesman for Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group said: "New evidence has been submitted regarding this case and it is due to be considered again in early July, so we cannot comment any further. Mid Essex CCG do not fund cosmetic surgery."
