Mum given months to live after 'Covid jab side effect' turns out to be cancer
A mum who was told her cancer symptoms were the side effects of a Covid jab has married her childhood sweetheart after being given just months to live.
Katie Pritchard was twice misdiagnosed before the mum was eventually told she had cervical cancer.
The mum-of-two, from Tysoe, Stratford-upon-Avon, went to her GP after finding a lump but was told there was “nothing to worry about” and it might’ve been a side effect of her Covid vaccine.
The 37-year-old was then told it may have been a prolapsed bladder from having children and was insulted by the suggestion it could’ve been an STI.
But after eventually being correctly diagnosed the mum has now tied the knot with her sweetheart Tom Cronin, 35, after they were told they might not have long left together.
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Katie and sweetheart Tom have been together for 17 years after meeting as teenagers (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)Tom popped the question on the day they were given the heartbreaking news.
Then, on Monday, the couple said their vows in front of close family during a tear-jerking ceremony at Stratford-upon-Avon Registry Office.
The newlyweds then headed to The Royal Oak pub in Whatcote, Warwickshire - where they met as teenage work colleagues - for a meal with 44 guests.
Katie said she was delighted to finally marry the love of her life after 17 years together.
She described the day as “perfect” from start to finish and said she felt like the “cancer didn't exist” during their celebrations.
The nurse manager who works at Horton General Hospital in Banbury, Oxfordshire, said: "It was perfect and very fun with lots of laughter and silliness.
The terminally-ill mum was told her cancer symptoms could be the side effects of a Covid jab (Katie Pritchard / SWNS)
Medics also said her cancer symptoms could have been a prolapsed bladder or even an STI (Katie Pritchard / SWNS)"The wedding was held 10 days post chemo. The week after chemotherapy I am usually bedbound and yesterday was the first day I had got my energy back.
"I felt really good all day and we all totally forgot about my cancer. It feels wonderful to finally be married to Tom. The day felt cancer-free with lots of love and celebration.
"Tom and I are both so lucky to have the amazing families we do and we thank them for all their support."
On the day, Katie wore a pink jumpsuit and Tom was dressed in a green suit - as the pair wanted to wear something bright and uplifting.
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She was walked down the aisle by her dad Peter and the couple's two young boys Percy, four, and Cass, two, were ring bearers.
Tom proposed to Katie on the spot they met after they were told she had just months to live (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)Katie, of Tysoe, Stratford-upon-Avon, added: "I didn't wear a traditional wedding dress, but a pink jumpsuit and Tom was dressed in green.
"Cass put the ring on me at the registry office before Tom got a chance to, which we all found very funny.
"The wedding was lovely because it allowed us to have all our family under one roof. Tom's dad lives in Canada, so we don't get to see him that often and it was nice for all my family to meet his.
"We also could not have asked for better pub owners and managers at the Royal Oak where our reception was held.
"They made it so special and put the meal on at the reception for everyone for free which was overwhelming and we are so grateful."
Katie and Tom before the cancer diagnosis (Katie Pritchard / SWNS)After she was initially diagnosed, Katie was forced to wait an agonising three months for her treatment to begin, by which point the cancer had spread.
She began five weeks of gruelling radiotherapy, chemotherapy and brachytherapy in April last year and was told the treatment had been a success.
But tragically, in December, after undergoing further scans, she received the devastating news that the cancer had returned and she was given just months to live.
At the start of this year, Katie was diagnosed with lung, shoulder, spine, and pelvic cancer and started palliative chemotherapy three weeks ago.
She’s now crowdfunding £200,000 for a private drug which could help prolong her life.
They're now crowdfunding for a drug that could help prolong her life (Joseph Walshe / SWNS)Tom has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for a private immunotherapy drug for Katie to take alongside her ongoing treatment.
The drug named Pembrolizumab costs an eye-watering £6,000 every three weeks and so far, the fundraising page has racked up over £139,000 in donations.
Katie added: "I will continue on it for as long as my body can tolerate it or as long as I live.
"I want to tell people how important it is to live your life and to go on lots of adventures.
"Turn off Netflix and go outside and enjoy yourself. You need to live for now and not for the future."
Tom, a Geography teacher, said: "The day that they said Katie was going to have months rather than years, I proposed at the spot where we first met.
"It's a lane near to the Royal Oak pub in Whatcote, where Katie's family lived when we met as teenagers.
"We've got a to-do list, which includes a will and making videos for the boys. So, if the worst does happen, we're prepared for it.
"We're being realists and positive at the same time. It's a weird balance."
To make a donation towards Katie's treatment, click here.
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