Emilia Shaw, 41, seen she was continuously exhausted over the summer season, however put it right down to her early work shifts
Emilia Shaw along with her youngsters, Henry and Felix (Picture: Emilia Shaw/SWNS)
A nurse who was continuously “drained on a regular basis” and attributed it to her demanding work schedule, was shocked to find that her fatigue was really a symptom of a uncommon type of most cancers, necessitating a stem cell transplant. Emilia Shaw, a 41-year-old mom of two, discovered herself perpetually worn out all through the summer season, however assumed it was on account of her early morning shifts.
Along with her exhaustion, she developed a persistent cough and continued to really feel drained and unwell. By October 2025, Emilia’s signs had escalated, with extreme complications, bleeding gums, and heavy menstrual cycles prompting her to hunt a blood check at her native GP in December.
Following the recommendation of her medical doctors, Emilia visited Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, the place a blood transfusion revealed an alarmingly excessive white blood cell rely and critically low ranges of pink blood cells and platelets. On December 9, 2025, Emilia obtained the devastating analysis of acute myeloid leukaemia – a quickly progressing most cancers affecting the blood and bone marrow.
Emilia has lately accomplished her first spherical of chemotherapy at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and, following a quick respite at dwelling, will start her second spherical. Subsequently, she has been knowledgeable that she would require a stem cell transplant, a process that replaces broken blood-forming stem cells with wholesome ones.
Emilia, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, defined: “It has been powerful for my husband, Ben, 37, and our boys. Ben’s mum handed away three years in the past after a really quick battle with most cancers after which in January 2025, my mum was recognized with breast most cancers for the second time and had mastectomy and reconstruction surgical procedure.
“Additionally, Ben’s dad has a persistent leukaemia and has had prostate most cancers, so it appears like our complete household has been affected. Figuring out that the most cancers I’ve is treatable with a stem cell transplant has meant so much to us and I am hopeful that I am going to have an identical donor quickly so I can get again to regular life.”
All through the summer season months, Emilia started noticing persistent fatigue. She initially attributed this to early mornings for work and caring for her two younger sons – Henry, six, and Felix, 4.
Nevertheless, her situation deteriorated and she or he additionally developed extreme complications, prompting her to rearrange a blood check at her GP surgical procedure in December.
“I used to be simply so drained on a regular basis,” Emilia recalled. “I’d really feel drained on the wheel and I might even fallen asleep watching panto with my boys. So I went in and bought my bloods checked on a Monday morning.”
Emilia seen her signs had worsened and she or he was beginning to get pounding complications, bleeding gums and heavy durations (Picture: Emilia Shaw/SWNS)
Following her physician’s recommendation, Emilia went on to Alexandra Hospital, the place she obtained a blood transfusion. The following day, on December 9, 2025, Emilia was knowledgeable she had acute myeloid leukaemia and would require a stem cell transplant.
Emilia’s husband, Ben Shaw, who’s employed within the automotive sector, recalled: “The primary time I knew that Emilia had unhealthy information was when she despatched me a message to say I might go to her outdoors opening hours. I simply crumbled when she informed me what leukaemia she had.
“I used to be within the means of informing my household and I simply could not communicate over the telephone. I used to be in worry of Emilia dying as my mum died of most cancers simply 17 days after her analysis.”
Emilia is presently receiving chemotherapy therapy, with medical professionals advising that she would require a stem cell transplant. She is hopeful that one in all her siblings will show to be an appropriate match, although this stays unconfirmed.
“I labored within the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, for years as a employees nurse and I’ve since been informed that, if an identical donor is discovered for me, that is the place I will be going for my transplant,” Emilia defined. “It is unusual to go from nurse to affected person, however I do know they’re going to take care of me.”
Emilia and her relations at the moment are collaborating with blood most cancers charity DKMS to induce extra people to register as potential stem cell donors. Registration is easy, requiring solely a handful of health-related questions and a few cheek swabs.
Well being information, recommendation and signs to be careful for Subscribe Invalid e mail
We use your sign-up to offer content material in methods you’ve got consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This will likely embrace adverts from us and third events based mostly on our understanding. You possibly can unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
Following registration, your samples shall be analysed to find out whether or not you match a affected person in want. At current, roughly 2,000 individuals throughout the UK are awaiting their match, but merely 7 per cent of the eligible inhabitants have registered.
Registration is offered by means of Emilia’s marketing campaign on-line.
Leave a Reply