'Doctors said my symptoms were anxiety, then I had to have my leg removed'
'Doctors said my symptoms were anxiety, then I had to have my leg removed'
Erin was 23 and about to start her dream job when she experienced a list of symptoms
Doctors told Erin there was nothing physically wrong
When Erin Lazarus started suffering from strange symptoms, doctors told her it was just anxiety. She was 23, completing her postgraduate degree and about to start her dream job as a foreign exchange dealer at Investec.
But despite the doctors' reassurance and blood tests showing nothing, the problems persisted. She was soon struggling with joint pain, migraines, hair loss, rashes, fatigue, swelling, and redness around her nails and feet.
'It's a miracle I finished my degree. My body completely broke down the moment I submitted my final paper,' she says. By December 2021, her left foot began to change colour, and within days she was slurring her words and losing consciousness.
She was taken to hospital but discharged. It wasn't until her foot turned black and she experienced unbearable pain that she was readmitted and finally diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease that had caused a life-threatening clot in her leg.
Several surgeries failed to restore blood flow, and Erin was faced with a stark choice. 'Either I kept this dead foot or I lived,' she says. 'For me, it wasn't a choice. I wanted to live.'
Erin was 23, completing her postgraduate degree and about to start her dream job
Article continues below
Just 12 hours after the amputation, she was up on a walker. 'I danced when my family came in. This was the start of something new,' she recalls. 'They named my stump 'Stompy,' kissed it, and made me laugh. That's the kind of family I have.'
She credits her incredible recovery to her close-knit support system: her father Mark, her mum Marilyn, her sister, Jenna, and her long-time physiotherapist Farrell Cohen. Four months after the surgery, Erin was fitted with her first prosthetic and walking independently.
But it has not always been straightforward. 'One morning I went to rehab, then walked into work and heard a massive clicking sound. I rushed to the bathroom, but I was wearing tight jeans,' she says. 'So there I was, sitting in a toilet stall with my pants down, trying to see what was going on - and my leg broke in half! The socket disconnected from the bar. I was stranded in the bathroom, holding my broken leg.
'My mom, who works at the same company, came running. We were brainstorming ideas, but I couldn't stop laughing.'
She still experiences phantom pain - pins and needles and sharp, electric shocks in her non-existent foot. 'I grab the bottom of my stump and tap it to tell my brain there's no foot there,' she says, adding that her boyfriend Reade Metzer has been amazing. 'He massages and squeezes my leg until the pain dies down.'
The world of prosthetics has astounded her. 'I had no idea how customised and high-tech these legs are. It's incredible what's possible,' she says. On Sunday Erin ran the London Marathon with dad Mark, a seasoned ultramarathon runner, proudly by her side. The experience left her 'truly speechless.'
'There are no words to describe it,' she says. 'I loved every second of it even when I was sore. The crowd was even more amazing than I expected. I found it very emotional and kept telling myself 'wow I'm actually doing it'.
'I kept telling myself 'you get to run' and kept picturing myself in hospital and reminding myself why I'm doing this. It was so special doing it with my dad and getting to see my family at 22km, 35km and the finish made me get through it and made it even more special.'
Erin was up and walking within hours of the surgery
Training was gruelling. Erin runs with a blade designed for endurance, balancing strength work in the gym with long-distance road runs. 'There's chafing, blisters, and days when I think, 'What was I thinking?' But then I remember why I started.
'It wasn't just about crossing the finish line. It was about proving that I can do something no one thought was possible after my amputation.'
As for lupus, it's something she manages quietly and privately. 'I take my meds. I do what I need to,' she says. 'But I don't like to focus on it because it scares me. I trust my doctor completely. The leg side is visible, so it's easier for people to understand. But lupus? That's the part people don't see. When I say I'm tired, it's not 'normal' tired. And when I'm sick, I get really sick.'
She hopes medical professionals will stop jumping to conclusions so quickly. 'If doctors had just listened earlier, things might have been different. But I wouldn't change what's happened—I have such a full life now. Her message to others with lupus or facing amputation?
'You'll live a perfectly normal life - and it's going to be okay. The medication is amazing, and you're stronger than you think. Trust yourself. You know your body better than anyone. Speak up if something feels wrong.'
Now Erin is focused on giving back. Through Rejuvenate SA and Trojans Neurological Trust, she's helping others with mobility challenges gain independence. 'I love sharing this weird and wonderful journey. I'm learning every day and doing everything I can to help others do the same.
Article continues below
'I used to think losing my leg was the worst thing that could happen to me. But honestly? It gave me the best version of myself.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Neighbours star shares update on seven month old son after brain tumour surgery
Australian model, Erin McNaught, has revealed her seven month old son has undergone surgery to remove a brain tumour after heartbreakingly noticing a 'rapid decline in his health and happiness' Former Neighbours star Erin McNaught has told fans her baby son, Obi, has undergone surgery to remove a tumour on his brain following "the hardest few days". The brave tot was diagnosed with cancer, aged just seven months, after Erin noticed a "rapid decline in his health and happiness". Thankfully, the mum-of-three, 43, said Obi's medical team were "very happy" with how the major operation went this week as she updated followers while thanking them for their support. Taking to Instagram, sharing a snap of herself kissing little Obi, whose head was wrapped up in bandages, in hospital following his operation, she said: "Today Obi had the surgery to remove the tumour. The amazing team here are very happy with the way it went." Earlier this week, the former Miss Universe Australia and her music producer partner Stace Cadet shared Obi's devastating diagnosis. The couple, who welcomed their first child together in October last year, issued a tearjerking joint statement on Thursday morning, as they opened up about their son's health concerns. "For the last few weeks we have noticed a rapid decline in Obi's behaviour and happiness," the statement began. It continued: "He was having problems eating, sleeping and most recently, keeping his head straight." The couple explained that after noticing Obi change so quickly, they booked him in for an MRI scan under the advice of their doctor. The scan, conducted earlier this week, tragically revealed that a large tumour was situated on the right side of his brain. "At about 6:00pm Tuesday night we met with a neurosurgeon who broke the heartbreaking news," Erin and Stace continued, adding: "We are absolutely shattered and the last few days have been our hardest days." Following Obi's operation, the proud parents praised the team at Queensland Children's Hospital, who are now working with Erin and Stace to devise a treatment plan. "Our team at the Queensland Children Hospital have been incredible and remain hopeful that we can remove the mass and get Obi healthy and happy pending the results," they concluded. The post was met with lots of well wishes from from family, friends and fans, including Erin's ex-husband, British musician, Example, who she shares two children with - sons Evander, seven, and Ennio, five. In November 2007, Erin was cast as Sienna Cammeniti in Neighbours. She said she was "nervous" about joining the show because it was "a big change" to the modelling work she was known for. However, after she began filming her first scenes on 17 December, by March 2008, she revealed her contract had been extended three months before leaving the iconic Aussie soap in July 2008.
Wales Online
06-06-2025
- Wales Online
Dying dad denied treatment that will give him more time with kids
Dying dad denied treatment that will give him more time with kids Former Welsh Rugby Union commercial director Craig Maxwell was first diagnosed with incurable lung cancer in September 2022 and has raised £1.6m for charity since Craig Maxwell with his children Zach and Isla after rowing 72 miles from Tenby to Cardiff (Image: Mark Lewis ) A terminally ill former Welsh Rugby Union commercial director has had his request for a potentially life-extending drug turned down in the midst of his latest fundraising efforts. Craig Maxwell, who was diagnosed with incurable and inoperable lung cancer back in September 2022, has been undergoing chemotherapy alongside using amivantamab - a drug not yet approved in the UK, but one that Maxwell says could give him an extra "invaluable" six months with his family. Having previously been turned down for funding, Maxwell had to pay for the first quarter of his treatment himself - recently telling WalesOnline it cost him nearly £22,000. The treatment is approved in the US and some parts of Europe but is not yet freely available in the UK - with it currently going through the NHS approval process. Prior to applying to a Individual Patient Funding Request panel, Maxwell said that the costs of continuing on the drug would be around £100,000. Since his diagnosis, Maxwell, who also previously worked for the Six Nations, has completed the London Marathon, cycled from Cardiff to Paris and, last year, he walked the entire 780-mile Wales Coastal Path in just 26 days, delivering the match ball ahead of Wales' Six Nations clash with France. In doing so, he has raised around £1.6m for charities and will not use any of that money for his own treatment. Article continues below Most recently, he rowed from Tenby to Cardiff ahead of the Champions Cup final at the Principality Stadium. It was during this latest challenge when he discovered his request for funding had not been successful, despite the fact that his latest results show that his cancer is "stable and has stopped growing". "They feel it's not making a considerable benefit to my quality of life versus the cost," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast. "I've found that hard to accept, because in my position, six to nine months is invaluable. "There's no cost you can put on that, to have six or nine months with my family." Maxwell told the BBC that some private donors had offered help, but, as he faces having to continue paying for the drug himself, he is planning to go through the appeals process to overturn the decision. "The IPFR panel exists to support patients like me in Wales," he added. "I understand the drug is very expensive. "But it is the best thing for me at the moment and it was recommended to me by multiple professionals." He added that his his family are trying to enjoy their time together, as he recognises that "staying close is important". "There have been some amazing moments and experiences throughout this journey and I have to savour them," he said. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board told the BBC it had "worked extensively" with Maxwell to raise awareness of his condition. Article continues below "We are unable to comment further on individual patient cases," the health board added.
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I had pain in my buttock - diagnosis took a few weeks to sink in'
Andy Spary, 39, initially thought it was an injury A runner has quipped he's after a Kim Kardashian-esque rear end after his cancer diagnosis led to groundbreaking reconstructive surgery on his buttock. Carpenter Andy Spary, 39, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, initially mistook severe pain in his posterior for a common injury before being hit with the earth-shattering news of stage three bowel cancer, requiring surgeons to excise "a big chunk of his bum". Despite facing a major operation, Andy and his spouse Amy, 35, are managing to see the bright side, harbouring hopes of an enhanced profile post-surgery thanks to the medics' handy work using tissue from nearby areas to recreate his buttock. Former rollerblader Andy isn't just sitting on his new glutes; he's setting ambitious goals to tackle the London Marathon next year as part of his recovery journey and to drum up funds for Trekstok, a charity aiding young cancer sufferers. "The diagnosis was a shock and it took a few weeks to really sink in," he confessed. "I had a feeling something was not right but you're never really prepared for news like that." Andy said: "My wife has been joking that we should get a catalogue to choose from. I joked that it should be a voluptuous number which might be good for bouncing off when I fall on my skates – Kim Kardashian's name got thrown around a lot." The onset of Andy's troubles traced back to March 2024 when he rushed to A&E at Tunbridge Wells Hospital with an acute burning pain in his left buttock - initially dismissed as a skating injury. An MRI scan and subsequent biopsy uncovered a tumour branching from his colon, leading to a stage three bowel cancer diagnosis for Andy on June 14, 2024. This condition was found to be associated with his pre-existing Crohn's disease, which is known for causing persistent inflammation within the digestive system and can trigger abnormal cellular growth. "They class it as colon cancer but the tumour has branched off of my colon in my buttocks area and is spreading," Andy explained. "We're focusing on the positives, which helps, taking it that it's treatable and I can beat it." On July 8, Andy underwent surgery to have a stoma fitted, effectively sidelining the cancerous region in preparation for chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which commenced two months later. Despite hopes, the tumour did not diminish as much as anticipated, prompting a second surgery on May 21, aimed at eradicating the cancer while maintaining the stoma. "In an ideal world, if the treatment completely destroyed the tumour then the stoma could be reversed," he said. "But realistically I think this is rare and if they could've shrunk the tumour down as much as possible it meant they wouldn't have to take out as big of a chunk of my bum. The plan was always to have surgery and end up with a stoma bag for life." The medical team proceeded on May 21 to excise the remaining portion of Andy's colon, including the residual tumour. A plastic surgeon followed up with laparoscopic elape surgery to mend his pelvic floor and reconstruct his posterior using tissue from the surrounding area. Andy said: "One surgeon removes the tumour and then the plastic surgeon patches everything up. New bum, new me, all good." The surgery also presents the hopeful benefit of alleviating his Crohn's disease symptoms, as it involves removing most of the affected area. A keen rollerblader, Andy is well-acquainted with hospitals due to numerous admissions, and he admits he's "no stranger to surgery". He credits running for keeping him robust in body and mind, revealing that he would squeeze in jogs between biweekly chemotherapy sessions whenever he felt up to it. This determination has fuelled his ambition to run the 2026 London Marathon for Trekstok, a charity supporting young adults with cancer. His fundraising efforts on GoFundMe have already surpassed £3,350. "During my process battling this, I feel I've been incredibly fortunate to have had my wife and my parents to support me," Andy said. He recognises that not everyone has such a network, highlighting Trekstok's role in aiding young people blindsided by illness without a support system. The outpouring of generosity on GoFundMe has left him astounded, with donations reaching £2,500 in less than a week and still climbing. Andy said: "I've been blown away by the GoFundMe support, making £2,500 in under a week and it's still going. If I could make £10,000, that would be unbelievable." Currently in hospital post-surgery, Andy is eager to get discharged by the end of May. He faces the challenge of relearning to walk through physiotherapy, with hopes to resume marathon training by year's end. He's been able to sit up and even take his initial steps post-surgery. He mentioned that while doctors have optimism about the surgery's success, he must await a month-long period before a scan can verify if he's indeed free from cancer. "Keeping fit and healthy has been my best weapon," said Andy. "Having the goal of running my first marathon next year – stoma bag and all – is my motivation to stay positive and keep going. After this process, I'll be back on my feet, stronger and fitter with no more Crohn's and no more cancer, sorted."
