A woman has told how being denied a visa and described as a “health hazard” because of her size gave her the determination to lose 100 lbs.

Effy Murphy weighed 21st 12 lbs when she applied for entry to New Zealand but was refused because of her “dangerous weight”.

The embarrassing incident was the trigger that finally pushed the woman from Youghal, Co Cork, to tackle her unhealthy lifestyle.

She told the Irish Mirror: “That feeling when the visa was denied was one of the lowest points in my life.

“Being informed that I was a threat to their health system was mortifying.

“I was pushing 22 stone with no other medical problems aside from asthma but it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me as it kick-started my weight loss journey. I dropped three stone in three months and I was approved to travel.”

However, the dream life she had hoped for on the other side of the world turned to devastation as the 35-year-old’s marriage came to an end.

She decided to pack up and leave and soon returned home to her home in Youghal.

Crushed that her relationship had ended, Effy sought comfort in food and her weight blew up again.

The self-confessed food addict revealed: “I ate for every single emotion. I ballooned back up to almost 22 stone when I returned.

“I had put on so much weight, when I was in Disneyland with the kids I got stuck on one of the rides. I was so big I couldn’t lift myself out.”

Struggling with her weight since she was 14, Effy says she experimented with every diet possible.

Unable to restrict herself, she decided the only way she could stop herself from eating was to make the drastic decision of gastric sleeve surgery.

She admitted: “I was out of control, I booked my flight to Turkey and flew to Istanbul with €3,000 cash.

“I was picked up by my driver and driven to Irmet International Hospital. Six days later I was cleared to fly home.

“In the beginning it was tough adjusting but I got used to it. The hardest thing is dining out with friends. I can’t even finish a starter portion.

“I knew I had the determination in me to keep the weight loss going as my traumatising visa incident never left me.

“That was the moment I hit rock bottom. As bad and all as the experience was, if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have gotten the surgery and I couldn’t be where I am today.”

After losing over 100 lbs and currently weighing 14st 13lbs, the qualified beauty therapist’s goal is to see 12 stone on the scales once again – a weight she hasn’t witnessed since she was 14 years old.

The proud mother of Aisling, 15, Cian, 12, and five-year-old Ollie plans to go back to Disneyland next month and is looking forward to “actually fitting into the rollercoasters”.

The busy mum also plans to have more surgery as she has promised to make herself a priority.

She said: “I’ll never forget how low I was lying on my back on the hospital bed about to go for surgery and knowing I did this to myself. I will never look back.

“I’ll be flying back to my hospital in the summer for a tummy tuck and mummy makeover. The best decision I’ve ever made was to put myself first.”

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The world’s first HIV positive sperm bank has been launched in an effort to reduce the stigma experienced by those living with the virus.

Sperm Positive has begun with three male donors from across New Zealand who are living with HIV but have an undetectable viral load, meaning the amount of the virus in a person’s blood is so low that it cannot be detected by standard methods.

Although this does not mean the HIV has been cured, it does mean that the treatment is working well and so the virus cannot be passed on – even through sex without a condom or childbirth.

Donor Damien Rule-Neal was diagnosed with HIV in 1999 but was confirmed undetectable after starting treatment some 18 years ago.

He said there was still a lack of education among the public in New Zealand about what an undetectable status meant, and that he had experienced stigma about living with HIV in both his work and personal life.

“I have many friends who are also living with HIV who’ve gone on to have children,” he said.

“Being able to help others on their journey is so rewarding, but I also want to show the world that life doesn’t stop post-diagnosis and help to remove the stigma.”

The online sperm bank said it will be made clear to people looking for a donor that they have HIV but are on effective treatment and so cannot pass the virus on.

The initiative, created by the New Zealand Aids Foundation, Positive Women Inc and Body Positive, hopes to educate people in New Zealand about HIV transmission.

Dr Mark Thomas, an infectious diseases doctor and Auckland University associate professor, said he had seen changes in public opinion after working with those diagnosed with HIV for more than 30 years.

He said: “I’m glad to say that in this time there have been great changes in public understanding of HIV, but many people living with HIV still suffer from stigma.

“Stigma can lead to inconsistent taking of medicines, and result in much less effective treatment of HIV, and risk of transmitting HIV.

“Fear of stigma and discrimination can stop people at risk from getting tested, and those living with HIV from accessing treatment and support.”

As well as informing the public, the online clinic aims to give people diagnosed with the virus the opportunity to create life and to raise awareness that fertility services are available for them.

Sperm Positive said it will not be operating as a fertility clinic and, if a match is agreed by both parties, it will put them in touch with local fertility clinics.

The online bank was launched ahead of World Aids Day 2019, on December 1.      

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