Fighting for her life: Woman suffering from rare condition can't gain weight

A 32-year-old Milwaukee woman is fighting to save her life as a rare condition prevents her from gaining weight, People.com reported.

During the summer of 2011, Lisa Brown started to lose weight. Her husband of one year, Patrick Brown, 31, told People they weren’t concerned, until the weight loss wouldn’t stop.

"We were your average 20-somethings," Lisa told the magazine. "All the way until I was about 28 years old when I got married and little things started to go downhill."

Soon, Lisa was vomiting after every meal and unable to move due to severe stomach pain. Doctors prescribed acid reflux medication, but it didn’t work.

Due to her physical condition, strangers would often make rude remarks, such as telling her to eat a burger, People reported.

"At first, I would say stuff back and defend myself," Lisa told People. "I've come to understand that people will say mean stuff, but I know the truth."

In December 2013, she was diagnosed with superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMA syndrome), an uncommon digestive system disorder in which part of the digestive system is pinched, preventing food from going through. While corrective surgery made her feel better for a few months, soon her health declined again.

In May, weighing 89 pounds— she once weighed 140 pounds— Brown was taken to the Cleveland Clinic. She received a new diagnosis in early July: gastroparesis. The condition prevents the stomach from emptying properly.

"Her stomach doesn't work properly," her doctor, Dr. Matthew Kroh, director of surgical endoscopy, told People. "We just now need to see what will work best for her to get her to a good spot."

Lisa, who now weighs 94 pounds, will return to Cleveland on Monday to figure out the next steps. She is hooked up to a feeding device for up to 20 hours a day.

Every day, she feels like she’s closer to getting her old life back, People reported, and said she “keeps hope in her back pocket.”

"When I look into the future, I know I will never be the same person I was, but I'm okay with that," Lisa told People. "This experience humbles you."

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