Meet the woman who is allergic to everything - including her husband

Meet the 29-year-old American woman Johanna Watkins from Minnesota who is allergic to everything including her husband. Watkins has been holed up in the master bedroom of their home almost a year now as sunlight is prevented from entering the room filled with purifiers to remove contaminants from the air.

Watkins who is suffering from what’s called “mast cell activation syndrome,” is allergic to food, chemicals, the outdoors, dust and several other things.

Mast cells in the body release chemicals that instruct the immune system how to react. But the problem with Watkins is that her cells release the wrong chemicals, to the wrong place, at the wrong time.

The disorder are usually treatable but, unfortunately for Watkins, her case is so severe and rare it has not responded to treatment.

Her allergies to the scent of people has forced even her husband to live downstairs while she lives upstairs.

“I can’t get too close,” her husband Scott told Fox 9.

“I can’t hug her safely. I can’t hug her without hurting her.”

Watkins only leaves her bedroom during a medical emergency or to keep a doctor’s appointment and when she gets back she feels drained from exposure to all things that make her sick.

“As soon as that door opens, I can feel it. My body goes into complete attack mode,” Watkins said.

“It feels like my body is waging war on itself. My throat automatically tightens. It kind of feels like Darth Vader doing a choke hold.”

Watkins said she preoccupy herself in their bedroom by reading books, praying, make phone calls and online conversations.

“I try to just think of everyone I can and just pray for them personally — just pray for whatever they need,” Ms Watkins said.

“And I feel too that that’s a way I feel connected to people, she added.”

There are very few foods Watkins can eat including; ground lamb, chuck roast (a type of beef), cucumbers and carrots. 

Johanna Watkins and her husband Scott.

Despite their challenging circumstances, the couple remain positive.

“I could complain about it or not want it and there are times where of course we don’t want it, but it’s what we have and we have we feel like we couldn’t have asked for a better group of people around us,” said Scott. 

“I feel extremely grateful for everyone’s help to me. And the fact that I made it, and I’m back and I got another day,” Johanna added.