Having no belly button has been a source of anguish and torment for a Leeds man, whose struggles have led him to a life on the streets.
Oliver James Sutherland, 35, has opened up on his troubles from a very early age, of being bullied and picked on for his condition. In the place where his belly button should be, there’s a flap of skin folded over.
Oliver, who is originally from Great Heck in North Yorkshire and then moved to Pudsey, was born with a gastro umbilical hernia which meant he had to have surgery for a bulge in his stomach. His intestine was bulging through his abdominal.
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Due to complications since then, involving his wound being picked, he’s said this has caused gastroparesis, which results in troubles breaking wind which is “terrifying”.
He was bullied from a young age for being different and having a deformed stomach. Oliver said: “I got abused in school a bit. My wounds were picked on and you can see the scars.
“It does affect me as you have a belly button and I don’t. It’s how I think about it, I’ve been abused, I knew I didn’t look normal and I jumped from a brick wall across from my house.
“It affects my life today, I try to talk about it and unfortunately no one will talk but people have an opinion. I’m miserable, I’ve tried to get help.”
Oliver travels around Leeds, sleeping in different areas but seeks help where he can. He receives government benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) just to get by.
He’s grown spiritual despite his issues and is now hoping to “give back” by helping at local churches and leafleting for them across town. He describes his faith as mixed with not just Christianity, he references Islamic and Egyptian teachings as well – he concludes that he believes in “a bit of everything”.
But his lack of belly button never ceases to be a source of torment, with gastroparesis affecting him. Oliver said: “They say it’s gastroparesis, so I don’t know. I have to go for surgery again as it [the wound] may pop out.
“If you break wind and if you don’t concentrate and deal with it, it happens again. Like if you don’t suss something.
“It’s a wound, I’m telling you, it’s terrifying. My sister said when I’m older, I might need surgery. Then again, I’m not fat so my tummy is not going to burst, so I might not.”
He’s struggled to find a job and develop friendships, “I’m not coping,” he admits. “Talking about it makes it better.”
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