'I was sent home from A&E with antibiotics - then woken by cops banging my door'
A woman faced the tragic loss of her husband, survived a 40-foot fall off a cliff and endured homelessness while being treated for leukaemia.
Michelle Sterling is now celebrating more than a decade in remission and plans to live life to the fullest until she reunites with her loved ones "waiting" for her in heaven. They include her husband Edward, who died of a brain tumour eight years ago.
Michelle, who lives in Wales, was 52 when she first experienced severe chest pain in November 2012. Despite feeling "embarrassed" for using NHS resources after being sent home with antibiotics for a supposed chest infection, her ordeal was far from over.
Just hours later, police officers, who urgently needed to escort her back to the hospital, knocked at her door. The triage nurse had prematurely discharged her without waiting for her blood test results.
Michelle's husband Edward died eight years ago before her devastating diagnosis (PA)Upon her return to the hospital, Michelle, now 63, received the devastating news that she had terminal leukaemia - a type of blood cancer. Her survival hinged on chemotherapy and finding a stem cell donor.
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Having lost her husband Edward to a brain tumour and having no children, Michelle confessed she was indifferent about living or dying at that point. However, she knew she had to fight. "I just thought my husband would never forgive me if I hadn't tried because he tried," she said.
The sustainability officer and geology graduate shared: "But for me, I'm not really bothered whether I die; my husband is there, my parents are there, my family is there waiting for me."
She began her battle with cancer immediately, starting treatment on the same day of diagnosis. The following month was filled with daily intensive chemotherapy sessions administered intravenously, leading to rapid hair loss within four days and sensations akin to "burning" and "urinating acid".
Adding to her ordeal, she found herself without a home after being evicted from her rented flat, having previously sold her own house. Her journey through this challenging period involved approximately three months of hospital visits for chemotherapy, platelet and plasma transfusions. She also battled repeated chest infections, neutropenia a condition characterized by low white blood cell count and even underwent emergency gall bladder surgery.
Michelle is pictured after climbing Mount Huashan in China (PA)Despite these hardships, her resilience shone through. By the end of her first round of treatment at University Hospital of Wales, she was in remission. Remarkably, she has now transitioned from "having terminal cancer to living 10 years".
With renewed hope, she plans to continue travelling, spending quality time with friends, and walking her dogs. She credits maintaining a positive mindset as "half the battle" in her survival journey.
Reflecting on her experience, she expressed gratitude towards the National Health Service (NHS), saying, "There are days where I think, 'The NHS were amazing, I'm so lucky to have lived in this country', because if I'd have lived anywhere else, I probably would be dead."
In a heart-wrenching tale of resilience and determination, Michelle shares her journey through life's toughest challenges. "I didn't choose to live on my own, I didn't choose to have leukaemia, so I think the way I was brought up, you just have to get on with it," she said.
Michelle is a firm believer in positivity, stating: "I'm very much a 'the glass is full type of person, and we'll get through it'... I think your mindset is sometimes half the battle."
She fondly remembers her "wonderful" husband Edward, who she described as a "nutter" and the "life and soul of the party". In his final act of defiance against death, he requested Firestarter by The Prodigy to be played at his cremation, his "final song".
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Edward tragically passed away in 2004 at the age of 43 after a six-year battle with a brain tumour. Following his death, Michelle embarked on a journey of self-discovery, travelling to far-flung places like Antarctica, China, and Alaska before enrolling in an undergraduate geology course at the University of South Wales.
Michelle enjoys the company of her dogs Mabel and Winnie the Witch (PA)During a hen weekend in Benidorm in the summer of 2010, Michelle found herself reminiscing about Edward. She chose to sit alone on a rock atop a cliff, watching the sunset. However, when she tried to stand, the "cliff gave way", resulting in a terrifying 40ft fall .
Miraculously, despite landing on her back, Michelle survived without breaking any bones. "I was relaxed and I didn't tense up, I just thought, 'Ed, I'll see you soon!', until I sensed the ground was going to whack me in the back," she recalled.
Despite the harrowing experience, Michelle remained unbroken, saying, "I knew nothing was damaged, there were no bones sticking out, but I had a bruise for a whole year." In a shocking turn of events, Michelle, who has "never been one to go to the doctors", found herself in the throes of a medical crisis in 2011.
Her friends, suspecting she was having a stroke due to her alarming symptoms, urged her to seek help. It was then discovered that a dormant childhood virus had begun "attacking" her heart. Fast forward to November 2012, Michelle noticed her urine turning an ominous "nearly black" and experienced severe chest pain.
Despite her initial reluctance, she called an ambulance which whisked her off to A&E. However, she was diagnosed with a mere chest infection and sent home with antibiotics, leaving her feeling embarrassed. But fate had other plans. Hours later , policemen came knocking at her door, recalling her to the hospital. It was during this unexpected consultation that she received the devastating news - she had terminal leukaemia.
"It was a goldfish moment because it wasn't expected," she confessed. Having already lost her husband, survived a 40-foot fall off a cliff in Benidorm, Michelle felt like life was constantly throwing curveballs at her. This diagnosis was just another addition to her list of misfortunes.
Michelle, pictured at university, is celebrating more than a decade in remission (PA)Michelle believes that if it hadn't been for the childhood virus the previous year , she would have likely avoided going to the hospital and succumbed to leukaemia, as she was not displaying common symptoms. Having witnessed her husband's gruelling six-year battle with a cancerous brain tumour, Michelle was initially hesitant to undergo treatment herself.
However, she began her daily chemotherapy via a drip that evening, describing the experience as akin to "acid". This intense regimen lasted for a month before transitioning to maintenance chemotherapy. In a heart-wrenching revelation, she shared how every inch of her body was in pain, even her eyelashes. To add insult to injury, she was unceremoniously "kicked out" of her rented room amidst her ongoing treatment.
"The woman decided she didn't want to have cancer in the house, and that was a bit of a blow because I then had to find somewhere else for my dog and my belongings," she lamented.
She described the ordeal as a nightmare, but admitted that the gravity of her terminal diagnosis didn't fully sink in due to the whirlwind of events surrounding her fight against leukaemia. However, in the face of adversity, Michelle's friends rallied around her, helping her secure alternative accommodation. Despite doctors' inability to find a bone marrow transplant donor, Michelle received the miraculous news of her remission within approximately six weeks of starting treatment a state she continues to maintain over a decade later.
"We always laugh in my circles, as you always say 'the good die young', and so obviously I'm not really a good person because I'm not going to die young," Michelle quipped.
Adding a touch of humour to her journey, she shared, "But also, my friends always laugh, and they say, 'Well, Ed doesn't want you up there yet, he's having a bit of peace on his own without you,' so he helped me survive it."
Now, Michelle's leukaemia is kept under check with annual blood tests. In her spare time, she indulges in travel, crafting, spending quality time with friends, and taking leisurely walks with her two canine companions, Mabel and Winnie the Witch.
In a heart-warming twist of fate, she now embraces her "different life" from the one she had envisioned, accepting change as her "normal". She eagerly anticipates celebrating her next milestone in remission.
She shared her joyous life updates: "I bought a home, I've got two lovely dogs, I've got wonderful friends, and I feel lucky that I had a wonderful husband I think it's how you view the world." She passionately urged others to be proactive about their health, saying, "I'd urge people to check any concerning symptoms, and for people going through any cancer at the moment, actually, half that treatment is you and who you are as a person, and your zest for life."
Her resilience shines through as she added, "Other people might have found it more difficult, but for me, it was just like another chapter of my amazing book." For those seeking further information and support, Leukaemia Care's website can be accessed here: leukaemiacare.org.uk.
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