Gypsy Rose Blanchard compares a feeding tube to an umbilical cord

In “My Time to Stand,” co-written with Melissa Moore, Gypsy Rose Blanchard claims that her mother Dee Dee Blanchard-who medical professionals believe was suffering from Munchausen’s Syndrome by proxy -was isolated from her family to hide the fabricated medical conditions and treatments that were forced upon her.

Dee Dee successfully duped medical professionals, family members and the public into believing that Gypsy was suffering from a number of serious illnesses, including leukemia, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy and other chronic illnesses. She is also accused of falsely claiming that Gypsy has a developmental delay, which ensures her complete dependence on her mother.

According to Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the consequences of Dee Dee Blanchard’s fabrications also included the removal of her teeth and salivary glands, the use of a wheelchair and the insertion of a feeding tube.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard had her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, insert a feeding tube as part of fabricated medical conditions imposed on her. Dee Dee claimed Gypsy had trouble swallowing and digesting food, which required a feeding tube. However, it was later found that this was completely unnecessary as Gypsy did not have any of the medical problems her mother claimed.

“This feeding tube kept me connected to my mother like an umbilical cord,” Gypsy said in her memoir. The tube was part of Dee Dee’s larger scheme of medical fraud, which allegedly included unnecessary medications, surgeries and treatments designed to maintain the appearance of chronic illnesses.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard said that at the request of her mother, she underwent about 30 different medical procedures. This included numerous operations on the eyes, legs and throat.

Additionally, Dee Dee had Gypsy have her salivary glands removed, further contributing to the unnecessary and invasive treatments she endured. “You were cut open. You got parts. You’ve been hacked. You were poisoned,” the psychologist said Dr. Phil McGraw said in 2017. “You have been robbed of your childhood. Your adolescence was stolen from you.”

Gypsy Rose Blanchard shared with Dr. Phil McGraw that she is actively working to forgive both her mother and herself as part of her healing journey.

“You are very controversial right now. I mean, on the one hand, you feel guilty, and on the other hand, you feel very exploited,” Dr. Phil said at the time. “That’s because both things are true. You were terribly victimized. You were tortured as a child year after year.

“It’s just a perfect storm of bad circumstances and bad psyche,” he continued. “I think that’s why they were willing to take a plea deal with you instead of dropping the hammer on you.”

To maintain her web of deception, Dee Dee Blanchard allegedly falsified Gypsy’s birth certificate to make her look younger and consulted at least 150 doctors over the years, according to reports ABC News. When Gypsy questioned her health, Dee Dee allegedly responded with fabricated explanations to keep her under control.

“I expressed my concern, saying, ‘I really don’t feel like I need this,’ and she got really, really upset with me and started manipulating me,” Gypsy said. PEOPLE magazine a few years ago. “Obviously I knew I could walk and didn’t need a feeding tube, but everything else was very confusing. Every time I asked about it, my mother said I had a seizure the night before and didn’t remember. There was always an excuse.”

Gypsy Rose Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. After serving 85% of her sentence, Gypsy, now 33, was granted parole and released from prison on December 28. Since then, she has expressed her hope to become an advocate for those in abusive relationships.

“I want to make sure that people in abusive relationships don’t turn to murder,” Gypsy said PEOPLE magazine. “It may seem that all avenues are blocked, but there is always another way. Do what you will, but do not take this course.’