Just terrible: A kiss from her husband could kill her
Imagine, you have found the man for life. You are happy and marry and want to be together until the end of your life. That's exactly what Johanna Watkins and her husband Scott from Minnesota planned. But his proximity alone puts the woman in mortal danger.
It is really tragic! The 29-year-old suffers from mast cell activation syndrome. In this rare disease, the cells that are responsible for the body's defense play crazy. With any external stimuli they sound the alarm. Johanna's immune system is so weakened that kissing her own husband could kill her.
Nobody would have expected that
The couple married in 2013. At the onset of the disease, no one thought how much the condition of the young woman could worsen. "There were times, three or four years before we were diagnosed, when I was very close to my wife, especially my face to hers, that she had to cough," Scott told the BBC.
Physical proximity means danger to life
One year ago, they realized that they were no longer allowed to approach each other - physically they could not be near anymore, to protect Johanna. Meanwhile, the two can not even stay in the same room, as it can be life-threatening for the 29-year-old.
Air filters, sealed windows and doors shield her from the outside world and leave the room only when she has to go to the doctor.
Love gives her strength
So far, she has not given any treatment to Johanna and she knows "My life could end very quickly", but she is grateful that she has found her great love in life and draws her strength from it.
She and her husband live in the same house and he stands by her side. Even if it looks a little different than you think. Because the two can only spend time together virtually. For example, they watch a movie together in different rooms and then communicate via their smartphones. But he is the greatest gift for her: "I am blessed in many ways," says the brave woman.
