Rare pic of MAFS star Martha Kalifatidis after mystery illness
She’s been “bedridden” after contracting a mystery illness in Europe – now worried Martha Kalifatidis’ fans have been given an update.
Martha Kalifatidis has made a rare appearance after vanishing from social media due to a mystery illness.
The former MAFS contestant was forced to cut her European summer short after contracting an undisclosed “viral infection”, dashing home from the south of France at the end of July to get the medical care she needed.
Since then, the 34-year-old influencer has been visibly quiet on social media, not sharing a single post in the last five weeks.
Martha’s notable absence has left fans concerned, with many commenting on her last picture asking: “Are you OK?”
Now boyfriend Michael Brunelli has shared a new photo of his fiancee alongside an update on her recovery.
“Slowly getting better,” he captioned the snap that shows Martha leaning her head on his shoulder.
In the photo, the fitness instructor can be seen smiling into the camera, while his partner shares a slight smile.
Michael previously shared an Instagram Stories post that explained Martha had contracted a “viral infection” during their overseas trip that had “taken a toll on her energy levels”.
In the photo, she can be seen lying in bed holding Michael’s hand beside a half-eaten sandwich.
In another post, he then reassured worried fans: “Martha is going to be OK.”
He said on July 28: “We came back a month early, to be around family and more comfortable at home.
“Was it the ideal way to end our trip? No. But we had an amazing three months overseas, experiencing different cultures, relaxing, having fun and seeing friends.”
While Martha has been quiet as she recovers, she did take to Instagram shortly after arriving back in Australia to tell her 644,000 followers she would be “back soon”.
“Hi, everyone. I know I’ve been quiet on here. I’ve been bedridden for a few weeks, but I’m finally home and getting the care I need,” she said in an Instagram Stories post at the time.
“I’ll be back soon. Thanks for all the messages. Sorry I haven’t got back to anyone. I really do appreciate the support though.”
It’s not the first health struggle Martha has had to battle this year, with the MAFS alum getting candid about living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in April.
While the illness affects the colon (large bowel), it is not dangerous – but can be very uncomfortable, Health Direct Australia states.
Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain, a bloated stomach and irregular bowel habits.
In Martha’s case, she opened up about the bloating she suffers as a result, sharing a raw snap of her tummy with fans.
“This is IBS. It really sucks,” she wrote on the photo.
She also suffered with “weird, lingering” Covid symptoms at the start of the year, telling fans it took weeks for her energy levels to return to normal.
Night-time sign you should never ignore
A doctor has explained a sound that as many as 70 per cent of us hear when we get into bed — and the sign it may be a problem.
State’s major warning over mozzie risk
Health authorities in one Aussie state have issued a major warning over viruses spread by mosquitos, less than a week after a similar issue across the border.
Breakthrough could ‘reverse’ Alzheimer’s
Scientists investigating Alzheimer’s have made a key breakthrough that could pave the way to slowing or even reversing the disease.