Matthew Johnson, a 25-year-old man once at the center of a shocking child abuse case, is forging a new path. His story, highlighted in the 19/8 Channel 4 documentary "Love You To Death", reveals his journey to independence after years of medical deception orchestrated by his mother, Lisa Hayden-Johnson. Matthew, who now works in finance, still bears scars from numerous childhood gastric tube surgeries.

Matthew's mother, 52-year-old Lisa Hayden-Johnson, expressed no regret in the film, claiming she "always put her son first." However, Matthew strongly disagrees with his mother's stance. Speaking to the BBC, he stated, "She still maintains her story, believing she did the right thing when it was completely wrong."

Matthew actively ended contact with his mother many years ago, prompted by her mistreatment of his older sister, Laura, 27. The psychological trauma from her childhood caused Laura, now a childcare worker, to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She reported frequent nightmares, recalling her younger brother's cries each time his feeding tube was changed.

Matthew Johnson (as a child) in a wheelchair with his mother, Lisa Hayden-Johnson. *Photo: Channel 4*

The abuse began in 2005 when Lisa forced Matthew, then 4, into a wheelchair. She fabricated a series of severe illnesses for him, including cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, diabetes, and a sun allergy. Despite being healthy, Matthew endured 325 medical examinations and nine general anesthetics, attending school in a wheelchair, sunglasses, and a fluorescent hat.

At home, Lisa transformed her son's bedroom into a hospital ward, complete with medical supplies and oxygen tanks, often dressing in a nurse's uniform. She deliberately manipulated Matthew's blood sugar levels to align with the false diabetes diagnosis she had concocted.

Through these elaborate deceptions, Lisa fraudulently obtained approximately 130,000 GBP in benefits and thousands of GBP in donations. The mother and son received numerous privileges, ranging from free television tickets and yacht trips to a national bravery award. They even met high-profile figures, including Queen Camilla and former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The deception began to unravel when teachers, medical staff, and relatives grew suspicious. A new blood glucose monitor exposed manipulated results. Further evidence emerged from a video of a yacht vacation, seized by police, which clearly showed Matthew running, jumping, and eating normally in his swimming trunks.

Police arrested Lisa in 10/2007. In 2010, Exeter Crown Court sentenced her to 39 months in prison. Judge Stephen Wildblood condemned her actions, stating that the mother's manipulative behavior violated the natural laws of nurturing.

Freed from his mother's control, Matthew and Laura moved to Sheffield to live with their father, who had initially believed his wife's elaborate lies.

Lisa Hayden-Johnson's case is a prominent example in the UK of factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA). The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK defines this behavior as child abuse, where a caregiver intentionally fabricates or induces illness symptoms in a child.