At 27 years old, I was an award-winning entrepreneur, a dedicated gym-goer and football crazy. I was the picture of health and on top of the world — until everything changed dramatically in November 2022. I developed flu-like symptoms that wouldn’t go away. Over a few weeks, it got to the point where couldn’t walk without support, my breathing took a major hit, I was looking extremely pale and then I suddenly lost sight in my right eye.
I was rushed to A&E, where blood tests revealed that my red blood cell count had plummeted alarmingly, while my white blood cell count had skyrocketed. That same day, I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). My prognosis was devastating: doctors told me I had just two days to two weeks to live without treatment. Now it was the battle against time.
A fight for survival
My body and vital organs began shutting down, so doctors decided to place me in an induced coma. I remember my family coming in as I was in and out of weak sleep. I felt like my family were coming to say their final farewells, one by one. Everyone was crying. I went into an induced coma on Christmas Eve.
After 2-3 weeks, doctors saw encouraging signs. There was 50/50 chance that if the life support machine was turned off, I wouldn’t make it, but staying on it would also mean I wouldn’t survive. Therefore, my family, alongside my medical team, made the huge decision to bring me out of the coma. I then spent the following two months in critical care, where I had to relearn how to walk, eat, drink, write and talk again. It had all happened so quickly, and my fight for survival continued.
My treatment journey
While still in critical care, I began chemotherapy. My body responded extremely well to treatment, but the journey was far from easy. Over the course of 2023, I endured five rounds of chemotherapy, with each round leading to an infection. Despite these challenges, by September 2023, I had completed my treatment and was in remission.
However, my relief was short-lived. In December 2023, just three months later, I relapsed — the AML had returned. This time, doctors knew my best chance for survival was a stem marrow transplant.
A life-saving transplant
After my relapse, I was transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for a stem cell transplant. As one of ten siblings, I was fortunate that three of my siblings were a match — so the doctors selected the healthiest candidate, which was my sister.
Before receiving the transplant, I underwent full-body radiation therapy and full dose chemotherapy. In April, I received my sister’s stem cells, and it marked a crucial turning point in my fight against AML. By June 2024, a bone marrow biopsy confirmed no detectable leukaemia cells and 99.9% donor cells—the transplant had been a success. My sister saved my life - she is my hero.
The importance of research and giving back
Reflecting on my journey, it’s amazing to me how far medical research has come, and it played a crucial role in saving my life. Without the research into stem cell transplants, I don’t know where I’d be today. So now, I want to give back by volunteering, raising awareness, and supporting others who face similar battles.
I spent over 500 days in hospital, but I am now a year post-transplant. I am still undergoing maintenance treatment, but I’ve gone from having just days to live to now being in remission. My resilience, my sister and the advances in treatment have given me a second chance of life - one that I plan to make the most of.
Our Patient Services team is here to support anyone going through a stem cell transplant at any stage of the journey. If you or a loved one would like support, you can find all kinds of information and support services on the page below.