Brave mum-of-5 battles sepsis and cancer 3 times and vows to 'fight for family'

15 June 2023 , 13:18

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Joanne Risdale has battled cancer three times (Image: Jam Press)

A mum-of-five has shared her harrowing three-time battle with cancer and life-threatening sepsis where she was left with little chance of survival.

When Joanne Risdale started experiencing frequent bouts of fatigue and nausea, she believed a typical stomach bug had taken hold.

But only months later, her life was hanging in the balance.

In January 2019, she was initially diagnosed with a form of leukaemia after being rushed to the hospital following a fall, before developing life-threatening sepsis only eight months later.

Since then, she's battled with two more bouts of leukaemia and has even had to learn to walk again after being left temporarily paralysed from the waist down.

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Now, the mum, aged 54, is hoping to share her battle in a bid to help other sufferers and spread the message that "you're stronger than you believe".

"I woke up one morning and realised I couldn't feel my legs - it was terrifying," Joanne, from Bristol, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.

Brave mum-of-5 battles sepsis and cancer 3 times and vows to 'fight for family'

Joanne has battled sepsis and was temporarily paralysed (Jam Press)

"I couldn't help but panic, but a few months prior, the same feeling happened and I lost all my balance.

"I recall the day clearly, as this is when I received my life-changing diagnosis of incurable leukaemia."

Joanne said feared something was wrong when she couldn't resist the urge to nap every 10 minutes while driving.

After returning home, she would fall asleep for the rest of the day.

Soon, her appetite decreased and she couldn't drink much due to the "unshakeable" feeling of nausea.

Joanne's children Ashley, Alex, Kerry, Charlotte and Candia (Jam Press)

As she wanted answers, she sought out medical advice, where she was diagnosed with anaemia and placed on a range of iron tablets.

But then, when boarding the train one morning, she recalls her legs turning into "jelly" and falling over, where a huge gash on her leg "streamed" with blood.

Her husband, Lee, aged 50, rushed her home and dressed the wound - but two months later there was still no sign of healing.

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She said: "I demanded a blood test, as I knew there was something seriously wrong with me.

Joanne and her husband, Lee (Jam Press)

Joanne and Lee’s wedding day in 1999 (Jam Press)

"Soon, after another fall, I was taken to the hospital where I received three blood transfusions due to the blood cell count in my body being extremely low.

"I was confused, until the next morning, when I received a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia.

"I kept wondering: 'Why me?' and I worried about my future, as well as my kids."

Acute myeloid leukaemia is a type of blood cancer which causes the bone marrow to make a large number of abnormal blood cells.

Joanne started experiencing frequent bouts of fatigue and nausea, before being diagnosed (Jam Press Vid)

Joanne still undergoes chemotherapy each month (Jam Press)

Due to its aggressive hold on the body, if left untreated, it can be life-threatening.

While the mum was relieved to have an answer for her unhealed wound and unexplained symptoms, her battle worsened after being diagnosed with the aforementioned life-threatening sepsis only three months later.

Over the next few months, she was placed on an IV drip and an estimated 40 tablets per day, along with physiotherapy, as she fought once again for her life.

Three months later, she was able to walk without any help and the sepsis had cleared from her body.

Joanne and Lee before she began treatment (Jam Press)

In November 2020, she suffered another blow after being told cancer had returned but then received a stem cell transplant in June 2021.

Now, she's been declared cancer-free for nearly a year but still undergoes chemotherapy each month to ensure the disease is kept at bay.

Joanne, who is mum to Alex, 30, Ashley, 28, Charlotte, 23, Candia, 19 and Kerry, 10, hopes to raise awareness for the signs and symptoms to look out for and is currently working with Leukaemia UK to help spread this message.

She added: "My biggest fear was not being able to see my little girl grow up.