Some mornings begin with a small ache, but for Melissa Ashcroft, every morning starts with sharp pain. The 30-year-old mum from Blairgowrie says her chest is so heavy she struggles to sit up in bed. She describes her back as feeling “like I’m 70 years old,” and the constant discomfort has taken over her daily life.

Melissa wears a 36M bra size and says the weight holds her back from simple joys. She can’t lift her young daughter, and even light cleaning forces her to stop and rest. For years, she hoped breast reduction surgery would offer relief, but the NHS requires her BMI to drop from 35 to 27 before approving the procedure.

That requirement became the turning point. Melissa says exercise is nearly impossible because every movement triggers severe pain. Physiotherapy hasn’t helped, and the strong medications she was given left her dizzy and unable to function. Even finding a proper bra is difficult, with her size costing more than she can afford.

With NHS surgery out of reach, Melissa has started crowdfunding to pay for a private breast reduction. A previous consultation confirmed she could have the operation without strict BMI limits, though doctors encouraged her to lose what weight she can. For Melissa, the thought of surgery feels like hope she has waited years to touch.

She dreams of picking up her daughter, playing at the park, and moving through her day without wincing. “It would be a complete life-changer,” she says—a reminder of how deeply we all long for comfort, freedom, and a life that feels like our own again.