Roy Keane's daughter opens up on incurable disease which left her with memory loss and on verge of chemotherapy - and explains how Man Utd legend saved her life

Caragh Keane was diagnosed with lupus four years ago - a chronic autoimmune disease that causes severe inflammation and can lead to serious complications. It had affected singer Selena Gomez, who had to undergo a kidney transplant as a result of the illness. For Caragh, the disease triggered extreme joint pain, hair loss, and painful blisters, with doctors suggesting she may even need chemotherapy.

The severity of her condition left her with exhaustion so overwhelming that she spent six weeks nearly bedridden. In addition to the physical toll, she experienced cognitive struggles, including memory loss.

Reflecting on that difficult period, Caragh admitted feeling as though her life had come to a halt.

"Life was over, no way out. I wouldn’t be here without them (mum and dad)," she told PA Real Life.

"When I was diagnosed, I mourned the person I had been and the person I felt I should have been. The fatigue was unbearable but you just power on. I was essentially bed-bound for a month-and-a-half. I had been experiencing fatigue and memory loss for about six months. Since your immune system is essentially attacking itself, you feel like you only have yourself to blame."

Determined to take control of her health, Caragh began researching the connection between diet and inflammation. Through her findings, she shifted to a clean, unprocessed diet, prioritising whole foods that promote healing. Her new approach included a diet rich in high-quality proteins like fish and meat, healthy fats, vegetables, and fruits. She also incorporated gut-friendly foods such as bone broth and fermented products, alongside key supplements aimed at reducing inflammation. The results were astonishing. Over time, she noticed significant improvements - her blisters faded, her hair began growing back, and the relentless joint pain that once confined her started to subside.

Inspired by her own recovery, Caragh decided to use her experience to help others struggling with lupus and similar autoimmune conditions and launched a wellness company called Superkeen, which offers organic food products tailored to support gut health and overall well-being.

"When I look at it now, it’s obviously led me on this journey and I’m grateful for the food moments," she said.

"With the main overarching aim of being inclusive and knowing you’re not alone, I hope I can help people. Everyone’s on their own journey but we’re all in it together. I started eating real whole foods so I focused on good meat, fish and healthy fats, veggies and fruits, gut-healing foods like bone broth and fermented food, and supplements.

"I started noticing my hair growing back and all my blisters started fading on my face. My joint pain subsided after a few months and then I remember think, ‘There are lots of people out there suffering that don’t know the healing properties of food’."

Keane, known for his tough persona on the football pitch, proved to be a deeply supportive figure in his daughter's life. Whereas, though lupus remains an incurable condition, Caragh’s experience shows that lifestyle changes can make a significant difference. With her newfound purpose, she is determined to help others navigate their own health battles - one meal at a time.