Lee’s Story

Lee’s story

On 9th April, I discovered I was pregnant. As a first-time mum, I was overjoyed. My partner and I were on cloud nine. But just a few weeks later, that happiness turned into fear. On 25th April, we went for our six-week scan. I was told my baby’s heartbeat was slow. The doctor explained that it could mean I was just six weeks along—or that I was miscarrying. They asked me to return in a week.

And that’s when the week of madness began.

Monday 28th April

I started developing mouth ulcers. I went to the dentist, crying the entire way, and explained that I was pregnant. They diagnosed stress and pregnancy as the cause and told me they’d improve once I calmed down.

That night, I woke with severe pain down the left side of my back.

Tuesday

I saw my doctor. She examined me, diagnosed a pulled muscle, and did a urine test, which showed blood—but she assumed it had a reasonable cause. She booked me for a hospital scan.

Wednesday

At the hospital, I heard my baby’s heartbeat—it was fine. Relief flooded me.

Thursday

I revisited the doctor for my mouth ulcers, was reassured again. Despite this, everyday tasks were becoming a struggle, including walking our dog.

Friday

I was at home wrapped in blankets, freezing. I took paracetamol, and for a short while, I felt okay.

Saturday & Sunday

The exhaustion worsened. Walking from one end of the sofa to the other left me in pain. I suspected a UTI and thrush, and NHS 111 arranged a clinic visit. The tests confirmed both, and by Sunday evening, I felt better.

Monday

I visited a car boot with my best friend. The cold weather made me feel even worse. Later, I started losing vision in my left eye. After eating, drinking, and taking paracetamol, I felt temporarily better.

Tuesday

I woke unable to see properly—both eyes blurry, a world of clashing colours. My temperature was 40.6°C. NHS 111 sent help, they suspected a silent migraine. I was admitted to hospital.

Hours later, after extensive blood tests, a nurse urgently asked me to call my partner. She entered my cubicle and said three words that changed everything…

“You have leukaemia.”

I was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (APML), a severe form of blood cancer. My white blood cell count was dangerously high at 90.

The reality hit me immediately—I had lost my baby. Emergency treatment began that same afternoon, including a transfer with blue lights to a specialist hospital.

Hospital and Treatment

I spent 10 weeks in hospital. The early days were critical. I developed differentiation syndrome, requiring ICU care, then acute epiglottitis, and finally severe acidosis. I also suffered a fungal infection and permanent eye damage, leaving me with blind spots, though my vision has improved.

Tragically, I lost my baby, and surgery was required. Thankfully, doctors confirmed I could still conceive in the future.

I was discharged mid-July and continued outpatient chemotherapy. On 9th January 2026, my chemo concluded—a day that felt like a new beginning.