York woman opens Pilates studio after recovery from critical illness

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 06:04 · Archive

Amber Burnip, 33, spent 91 days in York Hospital after emergency surgery for ulcerative colitis and has since recovered to open a Pilates business.

Amber Burnip, 33, from York, was told she would not survive without major surgery to remove her colon in May 2025. She spent 91 days in York Hospital requiring blood transfusions and intensive treatment after receiving an ileostomy (stoma bag) to combat ulcerative colitis, a chronic bowel condition she had been diagnosed with in 2017.

Following her discharge, she spent close to a month in a wheelchair, dependent on her husband and family to care for her and her one-year-old son Jacques. She lost 20kg in weight, dropping from nine stone, and lost all her hair. She said: 'I couldn't even lift a kettle, never mind carry or take care of my son.'

In the months that followed, Burnip regained her strength through Pilates, which she describes as providing a life-changing mind-body transformation. She said: 'I had done Pilates for a few years, so I understood the benefits. But I needed a safe and low-impact way of regaining my strength.' She has since opened a Pilates studio and emphasises that staying strong is crucial to prevent her from developing hernias.

How it is being reported

• York mum told she was close to death opens Pilates studio after remarkable recoveryA York woman has transformed her life after being told she was close to death with a chronic condition.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 14 Oct, 05:00
• York mum told she was close to death opens Pilates studio after remarkable recoveryA York woman has transformed her life after being told she was close to death with a chronic condition.The Press (York) · 14 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Amber Burnip · York Hospital · York

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