The Girl 2 Millimetres Away From Death

The symptoms started in kindergarten: Profuse vomiting, unexplained stomach issues and a sense of utter panic that no one could explain. For Katlyn Brooks, this wasn't just a 'childhood phase' - it was the beginning of a terrifying 20-year medical mystery…. The search for a physical cause turned into a mental health one, where therapy and antidepressants became the default solution. But, despite medication and regular therapy sessions, Katlyn's suffering only intensified. By high school, she knew the truth: this wasn't in her head. But realising that was one thing; getting the medical world to believe her was another. By April 2024, Katlyn's body reached breaking point. Weighing just 40kg, and vomiting nonstop, she was admitted to hospital. There, she was eventually diagnosed with three conditions, including Craniocervical Instability (CCI). This structural failure left her just 2mm away from " internal decapitation" , a condition with a 70% mortality rate. Today, Katlyn joins us to walk through her journey of medical mystery to the life-saving surgery that literally bolted her head back onto her spine. She discusses the "dark cloud" that lifted the moment her vagus nerve was decompressed and the reality of living with more than $1,000,000 of medical debt. THE END BITS Read more about Katlyn's story here. All your health information is in the Well Hub . If today's episode has brought up difficult feelings and if you just need to talk to someone immediately, you can always call Lifeline on 13 11 14 . Remember to be kind to yourself, and please don't hesitate to seek support. To find out more about Katlyn's conditions, check out the resources below: The Ehlers-Danlos Society EDS GP Toolkit The Mast Cell Disease Society (TMS) Mast Cell Action CCI Foundation The Bobby Jones CSF To support Katlyn's ongoing recovery and help manage the significant medical debt incurred during her 20-year journey, visit Katlyn's GoFundMe . Visit Katlyn's Facebook page . GET IN TOUCH Sign up to the Well Newsletter to receive your weekly dose of trusted health expertise without the medical jargon. Ask a question of our experts or share your story, feedback, or dilemma - you can send it anonymously here , email here or leave us a voice note here . Ask The Doc: Ask us a question in The Waiting Room .

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The Girl 2 Millimetres Away From Death is an episode from The Well by Well.

This episode is 45:09 long.

This episode was published on Feb 18, 2026.

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