Imagine living in a world where you can never taste the food you see around you, where every meal is just a distant dream. For 17-year-old Dutch singer Emma Kok, this is her reality. Diagnosed with gastroparesis—a rare condition that paralyzes the stomach—Emma has never eaten a proper meal. Instead, she survives on feeding tubes, but still continues to conquer the stage with her voice. Her incredible story of resilience, passion, and strength is as inspiring as it is heartbreaking.
At just 17, Emma has already achieved what many aspiring artists only dream of—winning The Voice Kids in 2021 and performing with legendary violinist André Rieu in 2023. However, behind the spotlight lies a harsh truth: Emma has never eaten food. Gastroparesis means that her stomach doesn’t function, and instead of meals, she relies on feeding pumps to survive.
"I’ve never had a bite of food in my life," Emma shares. “Instead, I’ve always had feeding tubes. That’s my reality. I’ve never experienced the joy of sitting down to a meal and eating like everyone else.”
In a moving video that went viral, Emma revealed, “Hi, I’m Emma, and I’m 17. I have gastroparesis, which means my stomach is paralyzed. It doesn’t digest food, and I rely on feeding tubes to stay alive.
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