'A defibrillator could have saved my dad's life'
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Daily Record
3 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Uddingston woman takes on Beatson challenge after stem cell transplant
Natalie Forrest and brother John, who provided the lifesaving donation, will complete the 10km event in Glasgow in honour of their late dad. A courageous Uddingston woman is getting set to take part in a fundraiser for the Beatson cancer charity – only 10 weeks after receiving a lifesaving stem cell transplant in her treatment for leukaemia. Natalie Forrest and younger brother John will be lining up for this month's 10km Off the Beatson Track walk in Glasgow for a second successive year, having taken part in 2024 in memory of their dad John who was cared for at the centre before sadly passing away in January that year. Just eight months later, Natalie was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and has since undergone a year of gruelling treatment including chemotherapy and multiple complications, culminating in the transplant of stem cells from her sibling in June. The pair are now focusing on taking part in this year's walk on August 24, with John lending a helping hand to ensure Natalie can take part in the fundraiser taking them around the Riverside Museum, Beatson centre and Kelvingrove museum – and the pair being accompanied by a beloved four-legged friend. Natalie said: 'I wasn't sure I'd be well enough to take part this year, but the event means so much to us as a family. So we came up with a plan – John will push me in a wheelchair so I can still be there.' She will be accompanied by toy poodle Nico, who joined the family just two weeks before her dad died, and Natalie added: 'Dad never got the chance to know him properly, but I'm so grateful he got to meet him. Nico has been by my side through grief, hospital stays and recovery. He's part of our story now.' Natalie received a donation of stem cells from John in June as part of her treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia and blast myelodysplasia. She was diagnosed last autumn after her alert local pharmacist – who had herself previously battled leukaemia – urged Natalie to report her symptoms of a sore throat, high temperature and week-long urine infection to her GP, and within days, tests at Wishaw and Monklands hospitals found abnormal cells and led to a shock diagnosis of blood cancer. The 40-year-old has since undergone five rounds of chemotherapy, beginning within two weeks, and has endured multiple complications including seven cardiac arrests and a spell in intensive care, emergency bowel surgery, a stoma and numerous blood transfusions. John previously told how the family are 'eternally grateful to the pharmacist who helped save Natalie's life', and had said of her time in intensive care: 'She was placed on life support and we were told to prepare for the worst. They gave her 48 hours to see if she could survive. 'Somehow Natalie pulled through. We were allowed to bring Nico into intensive care, and she briefly opened her eyes for the first time. The next day she woke up and [went] from strength to strength.' Natalie says the support from Beatson cancer charity has been invaluable both during her treatment, and in the months after losing her dad, saying: 'The bereavement course helped me so much, and it really surprised me how personal the support was. 'When I got emails from people at the charity wishing me luck before treatment, it really stuck with me. It made me feel seen during an incredibly lonely time.' The family is hoping for sunshine this year after washout weather at the event 12 months ago – but say nothing will stop them from showing up to make their way to the finish line in support of the charity and in honour of John senior, having first begun to support the Beatson to give back with gratitude for the care and compassion he had received. Natalie added: 'Off the Beatson Track is such a special day. Everyone there has a story and everyone understands; that sense of community gives you a boost when you need it most.' This year's popular 10km walking event marks 12 years of the fundraiser which brings together thousands of participants united by their shared connection to cancer, turning the west end of Glasgow yellow by turning out in the Beatson's signature colour. More than 20,000 participants have walked over 124,000 miles to date, with finishers at the Riverside Museum able to enjoy the festival village with live entertainment and food stalls, and the event being hosted by STV's Laura Boyd and Heart Scotland's David Farrell. Beatson community fundraising manager Maisie McCormick said: 'We're so grateful to everyone who has taken part over the years – some families have been with us since the beginning, so we hope everyone will get behind the celebrations this year and join us. 'Every single person who signs up is allowing us to support more cancer patients and their families over the years to come, and we cannot thank you enough for that.'
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
The Conservation Volunteers group in £9158 funding boost from North Lanarkshire's Grant Award Programme
Every Tuesday and Thursday, residents are invited to join Green Gym and Wild Ways Well sessions in the North Lanarkshire area of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park. Nearly £10,000 of funding will allow more people to "get active in a new programme that uses the power of nature to improve physical and mental wellbeing". Every Tuesday and Thursday, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) invite residents to join their Green Gym and Wild Ways Well sessions in the North Lanarkshire area of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park. These free, inclusive sessions offer a chance to improve your wellbeing while connecting with nature. Download the Lanarkshire Live app today The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now. Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7. The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you. Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android And thanks to £9158 of funding from North Lanarkshire's Grant Award Programme, the group is going from strength to strength. The sessions are designed to support both physical and mental health. Green Gym participants engage in light conservation work to stay active and learn new skills, while Wild Ways Well walks through nature offer a gentle, social way to reduce stress and boost confidence and include a chance for a hot drink and a chat. Existing volunteers and walkers are enthusiastic about the experience. "Being out here with the trees has made me feel so much better than I did yesterday,' says John from North Lanarkshire. "I feel so calm after coming out with the group." Elisabeth, one of the other volunteers, added: "I feel better because I know I am helping wildlife in my local area." Green Gym runs on Tuesdays from 11am to 1pm, with activities including path maintenance, access improvements, tree planting and orchard care. Wild Ways Well meets on Thursdays from 10am to 12pm for low-intensity walks, wildlife watching, and friendly conversation. No commitment is required - just come along when you can. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
Pontypool man opens up about experience with Long Covid
John-Sandie Lewis in his 60s is part of 'Let's Talk! Long Covid' a face-to-face support group for people who have Long Covid in Torfaen. The group which meets twice a month in Pontypool was set up by Wendy Edwards an ex-nurse and has a diverse group of participants. John's Covid experience first began back in December 2020. At the time he was carrying out factory work in Newport and didn't think anything was out of the ordinary when he first contracted the virus. John-Sandie Lewis from Pontypool is encouraging others to seek support for Long Covid (Image: John Sandie Lewis) John explained: 'I was working through shutdowns and a whole group of us went down with Covid at Christmas. 'I didn't know anything about Long Covid, or lingering symptoms and I was one of the first people in work that seemed to have it that much harder. 'I started getting flu like symptoms, it knocked the hell out of me, and six to seven weeks in I started to feel like I was getting better then it hit me much harder…' John Sandie Lewis with Let's Talk! Long Covid group's Yanto Evans and Wendy Edwards. (Image: John Sandie Lewis) John explained how his symptoms rapidly progressed. He said: 'It really hit me my nervous system. my ability to walk and breath, in February, I was coughing and coughing. 'I was rushed to the Grange for a suspected heart attack, but they realised it was a hiatus hernia.' Sadly, because of his illness John was forced to accept an early retirement and at his weakest he was unable to walk far without falling over. John said: 'I was walking about 120 yards and that was taking me the best part of three hours, my balance was getting worse, and I was having falls regularly I was falling every few yards even with a stick. 'It was extremely scary I had extreme body tremors, and I was virtually low mobility right through to September 2022.' Long Covid sufferer encourages others to seek support and not face it alone (Stock image PPE worn during the pandemic) (Image: NQ) At the time, doctors thought John was suffering from Parkinsons. However, a Neurologist later confirmed that his symptoms were in fact Covid related. John said: 'I went private because the waiting times were going up, and as soon as they said that it scared the life out of me.' Thankfully, John has regained some mobility and is doing much better, though he hasn't fully returned to how he was before contracting the virus. He has the following message to anyone who suspects they may have Long Covid. 'Try to remain positive you're not on your own there are others out there self-refer to your local symptoms management service if you believe you have Long Covid they will listen to you.' John shared a bit of background about the Let's Talk! Long Covid group.. He said: 'I'm just thankful someone had the idea to start it. "Between us all there's a whole host of careers, nurses, ex-doctors, accountants, people who worked in shops. It hit everybody. There's nobody safe. 'When someone comes to us, normally it's the first time they've met anyone else with it, and they get quite emotional. "It's a very isolating illness because it's still not understood. 'It takes everything away from you. Virtually everyone has lost their jobs or worked reduced hours. "It takes the control away from your life.' However, through shared experiences and support, the group is helping members feel less alone and reminding each other that better days are still ahead. For more information on the group, click here.
