CATRINA RAIFORD HAS lost more than 32 stone in the last 12 years.
The 38-year-old Florida woman once weighed 955 lbs – over 68 stone – and was previously dubbed the world’s fattest woman.
Raiford, who is five foot two inches, has been documenting her weight loss on Instagram.
She said she turned to food as a comfort after being sexually abused when she was a child.
Raiford was bed-bound for years and the side of her home had to be bulldozed so she could go to the hospital after developing breathing difficulties. She suffered from sleep apnea, cellulitis and congestive heart failure.
After this, Raiford went on a strict diet and had gastric bypass surgery. She has lost more than 36 stone. She enjoys swimming and recently shared her happiness at buying her first bikini.
The horrific experience of having rescue workers tear down the wall in my home was not only significant because the workers were there to save my life, it was symbolic of me breaking away from my past.
The demolition of that wall was the beginning of me breaking away from being a prisoner in my own home, me breaking away from obesity-related medical conditions, breaking away from immobility, and breaking away from the death grip that the fat had held on my life for so many years.
Since losing the weight, Raiford has been able to attend college and get a job.
All images: GoFundMe
She has started a GoFundMe page to help raise €10,000 so she can have her excess skin removed.
“My walking, bending, standing and sedentary movement is compromised by the extra skin hanging from my body. The extra skin that is restricting my mobility is also restricting my ability to continue reaching my weight loss goal. I am unable maximize (sic) workouts and must limit my movement and mobility,” she wrote.
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