Latest news with #Bea
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I was told lump was a cosmetic issue - now I've had my chin rebuilt'
Bea Churchill, 23, had a small lump on her chin that was dismissed as a cosmetic issue - but it turned out she required facial reconstruction A university student diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, initially dismissed as a 'cosmetic issue', feels "like Frankenstein" after undergoing surgery to rebuild her chin using tissue from her leg. Bea Churchill, 23, was studying biochemistry when she first noticed a small lump on her chin in August 2022. She consulted a GP, who she claimed thought it was a harmless lipoma - a benign fatty lump - and put her on a year-long NHS waiting list for cosmetic removal. However, over the next year, the lump visibly grew and began to affect Bea's confidence - leading her family to shell out £2,000 for private surgery. But what was supposed to be a routine removal turned into a life-altering event when Bea was diagnosed with papillary intralymphatic angioendothelioma - an extremely rare type of cancer. She has since undergone several surgeries, including a facial reconstruction using skin, fat and an artery from her thigh. The graft grows hair - resulting in leg hair sprouting from her chin. She is now fundraising for laser hair removal, which is expected to cost more than £300. Bea, who volunteers at a centre for adults with disabilities in Leatherhead, Surrey, said: "I do feel a bit like Frankenstein. I felt ugly, I felt really, really ugly. There's such a pressure on women to look pretty and it's really hard to not be that anymore." Bea first noticed the lump while studying at the University of East Anglia in August 2022. "I went to the GP and they said it was nothing - just a lipoma," she said. "They gave it an ultrasound and put me on a waiting list to get it cosmetically removed." However, the lump continued to grow despite her wait. "People would ask me at bars or events if I'd been in a fight or fallen over," she revealed. "I felt really insecure. I became a bit of a hermit." In November 2023, her family decided to pay £2,000 for private removal surgery as a birthday gift. "All my family put their money together. I was really grateful," she said. But during the procedure, the nurse noticed something unusual. "She said 'I have seen hundreds of lipomas and this is not a lipoma'," Bea recalled. "She said I could pay £300 more to have it tested and we all agreed we should." A month later, Bea received a cancer diagnosis and had to leave university, which she described as "absolutely devastating". Due to the rarity of the tumour, she said doctors were unsure of how to treat it. So, in May 2024, she underwent Mohs micrographic surgery to assess its depth. Her chin was removed and the bone left exposed for a month. Bea said: "So I had this massive great hole in my face. My chin was basically cut off at that point and my jaw bone was exposed. "It was pretty brutal. It was really gory seeing my own jaw bone." Then, on June 18, she underwent major surgery - lasting eight-and-a-half hours - using tissue and an artery from her thigh in a "free flap" procedure. Surgeons removed the remaining tumour, rebuilt her chin, and connected a thigh artery to her neck to keep the tissue alive. "They plugged the hole with the fat and skin and then connected the artery from my chin to feed it with blood to my neck," she said. "So I had a big incision on my thigh from just above the knee all the way to my groin. I had an incision around my neck where they connected the arteries together and I had my chin removed and the bone scraped again." While recovering, Bea was unaware she'd lost function in her leg due to overstretched femoral nerves and attempted to stand, but collapsed. The tumble caused internal bleeding and she was rushed back into emergency surgery. Despite the difficult recovery, Bea's body was cancer-free. "I was just completely elated to have survived this crazy surgery on my face and not have cancer in my body anymore," she said. But the free flap on her face was large and noticeable. "There's a picture of a dog that's been stung in the face by a bee and it really looked like that," she said. "I didn't really look in the mirror for a long time. "Before this I was really popular with people and I got hit on a lot. I played volleyball and was really sporty. "I did a cool degree and I was young and went clubbing so I felt really good about myself. Then all of sudden, in less than a year my face was maimed and I couldn't walk. I felt ugly." As she began recovering, Bea discovered a side effect of the flap - it started sprouting leg hair. She explained: "My free flap was taken from my thigh, so I have leg hair on the free flap on my chin. It grows hair like a leg would. "It gets goosebumps like a leg would, it reacts exactly how leg skin does, which is very different from face skin. It has a completely different colour from my face. "It's really bizarre. I do feel a bit like Frankenstein. People asked me about my face because they were curious about my chin and I've had lots of people be quite nasty to me in public since I've had this surgery." She's since undergone multiple operations to shrink the flap size and is now hoping to raise £300 for laser hair removal to rebuild her confidence. "It would go a long way into helping me feel a bit less monstrous," she said. "It would definitely improve my confidence. I think growing hair on the entirety of your chin is quite stark."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I was in the crowd when England's Lionesses roared home - the atmosphere was incredible'
More than 65,000 people gathered in central London to watch England's Lionesses celebrate their homecoming in style It looked like it was going to rain on their parade. All morning, thick clouds hovered over Buckingham Palace like they were ready to burst - ominous, brooding. A bit like England in the group stages. Or England 2-0 down against Sweden, or right up to extra time against France. But with this group, you knew it would come good in the end. And sure enough, just as their two red open-topped buses turned onto the Mall, the clouds parted and the sun came blazing down in glory. Over 65,000 people erupted in cheers, not for the weather, but for what we'd all come to celebrate - the Lionesses, double European champions, heroes of the summer. I had joined the throng of jubilant fans lining the Mall, packed shoulder-to-shoulder with families, football fans, and faces painted with pride. Some of whom had arrived in the early hours to get the best view of the women whose names were emblazoned on their shirts and flags. Even before the Lionesses arrived, excitement rippled through the air. The noise built as the crowd swelled - chants echoing, fans singing along to the Royal Marines Band's brass rendition of It's Coming Home, and cheers ringing out as England's tournament highlights played on the big screens. Many of those cheering were teenage girls who had followed every nail-biting second of the Lionesses' journey - and had to see the finale too as their heroes brought it home. Among them was 12-year-old Amelie from Brighton, who was with her dad Anthony. Watching Sarina Wiegman's side win the Euros in 2022 inspired her to take up football, and she's just got home from competing with her girls' team in the Gothia Cup in Sweden. 'I just saw how happy it makes them and how determined they are and how much work they put in,' she said. 'It just really inspired me. 'This time I watched every single game. It's given me even more determination. It's made me realise that the sky's the limit.' Friends Bea, Lily and Izzy, all 16 from Guildford, agreed it was important to be there. 'So many girls have got into football because of them,' said Bea. 'They inspire me. They taught me not to give up, because even when it looks like you might not win, you still can.' The Mall has probably never heard such high-pitched screams as when the Lionesses finally came into view. Some of the girls gasped as they saw their heroines riding past. They looked as excited to see them - filming on their phones, waving and blowing kisses, and Captain Leah Williamson hoisting the trophy aloft. There were still more memories to be made. Sarina dancing on stage with Burna Boy. Chloe Kelly dropping an F-bomb on live TV - prompting a wince and an apology from Alex Scott between giggles. Heather Small leading the England squad in a rendition of Proud. Then came the final crescendo - red smoke billowing into the sky as the squad raised the trophy once more. It was followed by the loudest moment of the day - tens of thousands belting out Sweet Caroline in unison. And right until the very end, the sun kept shining for the Lionesses. Of course it did.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Little girl's organ donation plea for Keir Starmer as she delivers letter to No 10
Little Beatrix Adamson-Archbold spent more than 15 months waiting in hospital for a heart transplant - her dad is now campaigning to put organ donor lessons on the national curriculum A little girl who spent more than a year waiting for a critical heart transplant has delivered a letter to No 10 appealing for organ donation lessons in schools. Beatrix Adamson-Archbold waited more than 15 months in hospital for her heart transplant, leading her devoted dad Terry Archbold to campaign for organ donor lessons to be part of the national curriculum. He decided to make the four-year-old's letter a special delivery. Terry, a police officer from Burnopfield, Co Durham, has won the support of his local Labour MP Liz Twist. He said: "Bea had a great day out, everyone was so kind to her. We have spoken a great deal about organ donation and I decided to put down everything she said in a letter to the Prime Minister." "She knew he was the 'boss of the country' and we were going to his home." Bea wrote to Sir Keir: "Hello, my name is Beatrix and I am 4 years old, what is your name? I will be 5 when it is my next birthday. I have a special heart, I had a heart transplant and it saved my life. "When I grow up I want to be a Doctor and a Unicorn Rider all at the same time. I want to be a Doctor to help people. Helping people and other children like me is nice. "I would like you to talk about special hearts and organs, I had a poorly heart but when I had a heart transplant it made me better. I want you to talk to my Dad about organs. "He says the more we talk about it the more poorly people we can help save. Kids like me. I have a school book which teaches about organs, it is an Orgamite book and I want to give it to you as a present." Now thriving, Bea is a testament to the miracle of transplant surgery. Terry told of the costs to the NHS for her care prior to her op in June 2023 at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle; 30 days in paediatric intensive care, 425 days in the high dependency unit and fitting a mechanical heart to keep her alive cost more than £1m. Terry, 47, believes school lessons about organ donation for children of all ages would raise awareness, increase the number of donors and reduce the cost burden on the NHS. He was in London with Bea's mum Cheryl Adamson, 42, a council worker, who collected a British Citizen Award for her work with Bea's 500 Club, a group which supports good causes and people in need. The couple have seen both sides of the transplant journey. In 2018, they lost their daughter Isabel (c) when she was stillborn and they donated her heart for medical research. Terry has also written to the PM. He is being supported in his crusade by Sergio Petrucci, who won a Pride of Britain award for his work with the Red Sky Foundation, and Orgamites, the group which teaches about organ donation in schools. The government is considering an independent review on the national curriculum with Professor Becky Francis and her expert panel giving their recommendations late last year.
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Eamon Downes dead: Liquid legend dies after five-year cancer battle
Liquid co-founder and DJ Eamon Downes has died after a five-year battle with brain cancer. The music producer, also known as Ame, formed group Liquid in the 90s with Shane Heneghan. DJ and producer Billy Daniel Bunter shared the heartbreaking news in a post, writing: "This morning in Rome was a beautiful service for one of my closest friends, Eamon Downes — beloved dad to Bea, devoted husband to Stella. "Me and Sonya flew straight from Ibiza to Rome to be with the family. You had so many people there from your local community, and you always spoke so fondly of everyone around you in Italy. Sometimes I'd speak to you and think you were Italian yourself." He added: "Bea read the most beautiful speech in both Italian and English so me and Sonya could understand. It was incredibly emotional for everyone. So many thoughts were running through my mind — from lobbing whiz in your coffee on a Saturday afternoon in 1990 in the record shop, to all the banter you had with my dad. "While your close-knit family and community were there in person, across the internet your pictures, your songs, the love, the shares, the comments, the tributes — they're not in the thousands, not even the hundreds of thousands… it's in the millions. "In the past 24 hours, you would've loved seeing how many people are celebrating your music and your energy. Even more beautiful were the messages from people you didn't even know — people you gave time to at gigs, people you sent jokes to, sent memorabilia to, people you helped through tough times or addiction." The post concluded: "You were loved not just for your music, but for the human you were. A kind, thoughtful, funny soul. You'll live forever in the hearts, minds and melodies of everyone's lives. As we all said our final farewell's 'Sweet Harmony' played. We love you, Eamon. Forever." A number of DJs left heart emojis under the post while one fan wrote: "Sounds really special, he will be missed." Another said: "He was such a beautiful soul." One fan added: "You lost such a dear friend bro and the world lost one of the greatest from Dance Music." Eamon, who was born in Tower Hamlets in 1968, and Shane found success with their debut self-titled record in the early 90s, with Sweet Harmony becoming an iconic anthem. The DJ spent his final years living in Italy with his wife Stella and daughter Bea, the duo's only child. His friends and family members flew to Rome for a private service in his memory. His wife read an emotional speech in Italian and English before mourners said their goodbyes while Sweet Harmony, which reached no. 15 in the charts, ended the service. The early commercial success of Liquid helped boost XL, which released Sweet Harmony as a single, into a massive label. Other XL releases include The Prodigy's Music For A Jilted Generation and its followup The Fat of Land. After their initial success, Liquid released their The Future Music EP before the duo stopped producing together. Eamon went on to released music under the Liquid moniker until 2023.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dad Recalls Thinking His 1-Year-Old Daughter Had Covid Before She Received a Heartbreaking Diagnosis in Emotional Interview
NEED TO KNOW A father in England is recalling thinking his daughter, 15 months, had Covid before she received a heartbreaking diagnosis Terry Archbold revealed on the U.K. show This Morning that his daughter, Bea, experienced "heart failure" and was diagnosed with a heart condition at just 15 months old She's since had a heart transplant after having to wait in the hospital for 14 months for a donor after being fitted with an artificial organA father in England is speaking out about the moment he mistook his daughter's potentially fatal medical condition for Covid. During an appearance on the Friday, July 18 episode of the U.K. show This Morning, police officer Terry Archbold said that his daughter Bea was born "fit" and "healthy" in 2021, before "she suddenly fell ill" and "deteriorated very, very quickly with heart failure" at just 15 months old. Terry shared that the family had been on vacation to Florida, and his partner Cheryl and their other daughter had contracted Covid. So, when Bea fell ill, they assumed she might also have the virus. Terry recalled, "We saw similar symptoms with Bea. Breathless, lethargic," adding that they weren't "overly concerned" at that point, but it "went on for a couple of days." After the infant stopped drinking, her parents sought medical advice, and after an ambulance was sent to the home, they recommended she go to a local emergency room to get checked out. "I expected her to be home in a couple of hours with antibiotics or whatever, never expecting to be told that they picked up a heart murmur, that she was in heart failure," Terry told hosts Dermot O'Leary and Sian Welby. Bea was taken to the Freeman Hospital in the U.K. city of Newcastle upon Tyne, where she was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, Terry recalled. Per the Mayo Clinic, "Dilated cardiomyopathy is a type of heart muscle disease that causes the heart chambers (ventricles) to thin and stretch, growing larger. It typically starts in the heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricle)." "Dilated cardiomyopathy makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body," the site adds. Little Bea, now 5, ended up having a Hickman line — which is a type of catheter that's fitted to help a patient receive medication, per the Cleveland Clinic — and her parents had then received a phone call to say they could visit their daughter and she was "doing well," Terry shared. However, after they got to the hospital, "We heard alarms and we heard staff shouting for equipment," Terry remembered on the show, adding, "And Cheryl said to me, 'Will you look?' We knew it was Bea, we just knew." He said that medics saved Bea by administering CPR after she went into cardiac arrest, but had then told them, "They said if she had another cardiac arrest, she would not make the night." "The only hope she had would be to go on the urgent transplant list. And to get her there, she would need to have a Berlin heart," Terry said, referencing the artificial heart which Bea ended up having. The little one ended up waiting 14 months in the hospital while she waited for a transplant, and Terry said the family had witnessed some tragic moments while there. "Within the space of a week, both the children either side [of Bea's bed] passed," Terry shared. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. He said that the moment Bea received a transplant was "incredible," but he acknowledged the heartbreaking decision one family had to make to ensure that Bea lived. "The reality is, we know what it meant to the other side so it's like living an endless torture," he recalled. "Every day wondering, 'Is this the day that we lose Bea? Is it her last day with us?' And enjoying every moment." "And at the same time, very conscious of what it means for her to come home, that if she does, her life from that moment, every breath, everything she goes on to do is because of somebody else," Terry — who had previously made the difficult decision, along with Cheryl, to donate their stillborn daughter's heart — added. Read the original article on People
