Latest news with #Nichola
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'My weird handprint-shaped bruise saved my life after a devastating diagnosis'
Nichola Smith from Glasgow first noticed unusual bruising on her arms, but she had no idea it was the first sign of a life-threatening illness that she would face, not once, but three separate times At 12 years old, Nichola Smith noticed unusual bruising on her arms, with one shaped like a handprint. But it was far from a scrape in the playground or a play fight with her brother, as it led to a devastating diagnosis that she could never imagine. In January 1994, Nichola, from Glasgow, was a typical pre-teen before she started to feel persistently unwell. For weeks, the 12 year old had high temperatures, fatigue and experienced bouts of diarrhoea. Then one day, after play-fighting with her brother and cousins, as any typical child does, she spotted something unusual "I remember one of them had grabbed me," said Nichola, now 44, "and it left a bruise on my arm in the shape of a handprint." Not thinking too much into it at the time, Nichola went to her GP with her mum and was told she had a viral illness. She was sent home and told to attend a precautionary blood test the following week. READ MORE: 'I went for a quick eye test after breaking my glasses - days later I had surgery' However, in just a few days, Nichola had collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital. Just hours later, Nichola was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Leukaemia UK reports that 37% of all leukaemia cases are diagnosed in emergency departments, a figure significantly higher than the average of 21% for all other cancers. Delays in diagnosis can result in limited treatment options and a reduced chance of survival. Currently, there are 60,000 people living with leukaemia in the UK. Nichola recalled: "Mum watched a lot of medical programmes and as soon as I was taken to hospital she said she had a feeling it was leukaemia. "She knew that the extreme bruises were a symptom. I went into complete panic mode. I thought I was going to die." Nichola underwent treatment for AML immediately, with several blood transfusions and five rounds of chemotherapy. On the road to recovery, she returned home, but devastatingly, by July 1995, she was told that her leukaemia had returned. This led the teenager to undergo a bone marrow transplant six months later to try and put her into remission. They couldn't find a suitable match with family members or on the donor register, so instead, Nichola received an autologous transplant – a transplant from her own cells. The transplant was a success, and Nichola soon went into remission. She was able to return to normal life as a teenager, went back to school before attending college and started her career working in a nursery. Nichola underwent regular testing to monitor the potential after-effects of the treatment she endured. In 2006, at the age of 26, one of these appointments revealed she had pre-cancerous cells in both her breasts, a common side effect of the leukaemia treatment she had received all those years ago. "It was another trauma to get through," she said. "They said I would need a double mastectomy. I had three major operations and a lot of recovery time. I still get checked every year for any breast cancer cells." But that wasn't the last of the bad news that Nichola had to face. In January 2022, she contracted COVID-19 and struggled to recover. After undergoing tests, it tragically revealed that she had myelodysplasia - a blood cancer that could eventually lead to AML. Nichola said: "I was devastated. I kept saying to myself, 'Here we go again' and 'why me?'. I have had so much bad luck in my life with my health and I couldn't believe I was going to have to fight again." She was initially put on a 'watch and wait' regime, followed by blood transfusions. Come August 2023, the situation escalated as her blood cancer advanced, needing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and another stem cell transplant. Thanks to advancements in cancer treatment since her initial stem cell transplant in 1996, Nichola's brother, Andrew, could donate stem cells despite only being a 50% match. Miraculously, the transplant turned out to be a success. "Since my first leukaemia diagnosis, I feel like I have built a resilience and a wall that hides how I feel. But at times that wall crashes down," Nichola admitted. "I am still young, and it shouldn't be like that. Cancer has taken a lot from me, but I am grateful to still be here. After four cancers, I hope I can have a normal life but for now, I'm taking it one day at a time." Nichola is courageously sharing her story in support of the #SPOTLeukaemia campaign, spearheaded by Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care, to spotlight the warning signs of leukaemia. Shockingly, 28 people in the UK are diagnosed with leukaemia every day, yet the symptoms can be so diverse and widespread that diagnoses are frequently missed or incorrect. The most common symptoms of leukaemia are: Extreme tiredness (fatigue) Bruising Unusual bleeding Repeated infections This year, the #SPOTLeukaemia message will be hard to miss. Leukaemia UK and Leukaemia Care have teamed up with JCDecaux Community Channel, an initiative from the UK's leading out-of-home media owner JCDecaux UK, to bring the campaign to more than 150 digital billboards in major cities across the UK, including eight in Scotland. The campaign will run until the end of June.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Scots woman 'saved by handprint bruise' after devastating cancer diagnosis
Nichola Smith, 44, began her battle with cancer at just 12-years-old. A Scots woman diagnosed with blood cancer three times has told how a handprint bruise "saved her life". Nichola Smith, 44, from Glasgow, fell unwell at the age of 12, suffering fatigue, high temperatures and bouts of diarrhoea. After playing with her brother and cousins, she noticed a strange bruise on her hand. Speaking to our sister title, Glasgow Live, said: 'I remember one of them had grabbed me and it left a bruise on my arm in the shape of a handprint.' She went to the GP with her mum, where she was diagnosed with a viral illness. After being sent home, Nichola collapsed and was rushed to hospital. Just hours later, the then-schoolgirl was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Nichola said: 'Mum watched a lot of medical programmes and as soon as I was taken to hospital she said she had a feeling it was leukaemia. She knew that the extreme bruises were a symptom. I went into complete panic mode. I thought I was going to die.' Treatment began immediately for Nichola, and after several blood transfusions and five rounds of chemotherapy, she returned home to begin the road to recovery. But the following year, received the devastating news that her AML was back. She then underwent a bone marrow transplant to put her in remission. Thankfully, the treatment was successful and she was finally able to resume normal teenage life. She went on to attend regular testing to monitor the potential after-effects of the harsh treatment she had received. It was during one of these appointments in 2006 that a routine mammogram revealed she had pre-cancerous cells in both her breasts - a common side effect of the leukaemia treatment she had received. Nichola was 26 at the time. She said: 'It was another trauma to get through. They said I would need a double mastectomy. I had three major operations and a lot of recovery time. I still get checked every year for any breast cancer cells.' Just when Nichola thought she was finally in the clear, bad news struck again in January 2022, when she contracted COVID-19 and found she struggled to recover. Tests revealed she had myelodysplasia, a blood cancer that could eventually lead, once more, to AML. For the fourth time, Nichola's world was rocked by cancer. Nichola said: 'I was devastated. I kept saying to myself 'Here we go again' and 'why me'. I have had so much bad luck in my life with my health and I couldn't believe I was going to have to fight again.' Nichola was placed on the 'watch and wait' list, then started on blood transfusions. In August 2023, she received the news that her blood cancer had progressed and she once again needed chemotherapy, as well as radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant. With significant progress in cancer research since Nichola's first stem cell transplant in 1996, her brother, Andrew, was now able to donate stem cells with only a 50% match. Thankfully, the transplant was successful. Nichola is sharing her story in support of the #SPOTLeukaemia campaign. which aims to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of the disease. The most common symptoms of leukaemia are: Extreme tiredness (fatigue) Bruising Unusual bleeding Repeated infections Colin Dyer, CEO at Leukaemia Care said: 'Nichola's story is a powerful reminder of why we all need to know the signs and symptoms of leukaemia. The reality is that leukaemia can develop quickly and be life-threatening, yet the early symptoms like fatigue, bruising or repeated infections are often mistaken for less serious illnesses. 'That's why our #SpotLeukaemia campaign is so important. We want everyone to be aware of the signs, because recognising something as seemingly simple as a handprint-shaped bruise can, quite literally, save a life.'
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Aldi is selling a £22.99 toy that's sure to keep kids entertained all summer, as parents insist it's ‘such a bargain'
IF you're looking for a cheap and easy way to keep your kids entertained all summer long, you need to head to your nearest Aldi. As the store has released a water and sand table that parents are declaring a "such a bargain". 4 4 4 4 Nichola took to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook to share the budget buy, as she wrote alongside her pictures: "New water/sand table out at Aldi (special buy instore) £22.99." The waterfall beach table comes in two different colours - pink or blue - and contains a total of 27 pieces. And others in the comments said they'd also managed to pick one up from their local Aldi. "Just got this today, would recommend," one wrote. "It's bigger than I thought it would be and I have quite a tall 18 month old." "It's bigger than I thought too and comes with so many extra bits," another added. "Is there any other colours do you know?" a third asked. "It also comes in blue/green," someone else replied. Aldi is selling a cheap $4.49 item that will transform your garden into a colorful summer paradise "Bought this today. My 5 and 2 year old's absolutely loved it," another gushed. "Such a fantastic buy. "They did have it in a blue as well!" "Got mine today, bargain," someone else said. "Will you have a look for one of these in Aldi tomorrow please?" another wrote, tagging a friend. "They are usually around £40 so this is a bargain!" How to survive six weeks of school summer holidays IF you are struggling with the six week summer holidays, you've come to the right place... BATTLING BOREDOM: Despite hours of activities and playdates, if your kids are already complaining there's nothing to do, parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi says: 'Don't feel you have to organise every second of the holidays. Kids benefit from boredom and learn to make their own fun. 'Boredom can trigger creative and imaginative play but you need to encourage kids to get used to not being told how to spend their time. 'Ride out the pleas of boredom. Counter it with comments such as, 'What do you think you could do?' and maybe have a list of 'I'm bored' activity ideas on the fridge.' SCREEN OVERLOAD: It's tempting during the holidays to rely on a digital babysitter but don't let them gawp their whole summer away in front of a screen. Liat says: 'It's unfair to expect older kids to power down but it's important to set some ground rules. 'Set family tech rules together. If you're often distracted by your phone, follow the rules too. Maybe tell the kids they aren't allowed any screen time until they've done set chores, some exercise, or a board game. 'Are there times when you'd like to ban screens completely? Perhaps during dinner or when they have friends over to visit. 'Tech is a battleground for parents, but you have to set boundaries. Stand firm and be prepared to be unpopular.' TOO MUCH TOGETHERNESS: You love your kids, but being with them 24/7 can be exhausting. Do not feel guilty if you need a bit of downtime. Liat says: 'If you're juggling work and household tasks as well as occupying the kids, it's normal to start feeling overwhelmed or jaded and in need of some peace. 'If you can't afford or don't want to send your kids to all-day camps, look for free kids' workshops so you can get on with jobs or have a break for a couple of hours. 'Seeking a spell of quiet every now and then doesn't make you a bad parent — in fact it will probably make you more positive and enthusiastic when you are with the kids.' SCHEDULING CONFLICT: Schedules can go out the window during holidays, but late nights and early mornings can mean tired and unhappy children. Dr Tamara Bugembe, paediatrician and founder of says: 'Children get grumpy, test boundaries and become challenging when routines are broken. 'Sticking to some kind of routine during the holidays is a good idea. 'We release hormones at different times of the day and when regular meal times and bed times are broken, it causes dips and peaks in mood. 'Holidays are about having fun but an early night once or twice a week will make everyone happier.' EXCESS ENERGY: Make sure kids get out in the fresh air to tire them out — and make them healthier and happier. Dr Bugembe says: 'Sunshine also tops up vital vitamin D levels which helps improve bone strength and energy levels in children. Our levels run low in winter so let the kids stock up in warmer weather. 'Letting them run around in shorts and a T-shirt is the best way to top up. Make sure they're wearing sun cream, get outside and have fun. 'Encourage them to try healthy habits such as cycling and walking. They'll hopefully get hooked and want to carry them on when the weather gets colder.' "This is perfect!" someone else said. "Bet they've sold out next time I go," another sighed. As someone else admitted they'd "got two this morning", another wrote: "It's lovely and such a bargain!" "They look so good!" someone else said. While another said they'd also spotted big bags of play sand in Aldi for just £3. "It's truly a steal so RUNNNN do not walk to Aldi," another raved. "This is an absolute must for toddlers and kids to with this summer." The release of the new Aldi buy comes after Google Trends revealed interest in 'outdoor toys' has increased by 20% since March. As well as keeping little ones busy, getting them to play with a toy in the garden means they're getting fresh air and making the most of the sunshine as well.
Reuters
13-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Alternative Chinese terminals emerge to take in sanctioned tankers, sources say
SINGAPORE, Feb 13 (Reuters) - A handful of newer Chinese terminals recently began receiving oil tankers sanctioned by the U.S., according to five sources and shipping data, providing logistics relief after a major port operator unexpectedly banned such deliveries last month. The deliveries follow state-owned Shandong Port Group's surprise announcement in early January that it would prohibit shipments from vessels designated by the U.S. Treasury, curbing imports at eastern Shandong province, the hub for independent refiners that are the main Chinese buyers of sanctioned Russian and Iranian crude. The recent shipments to the newer terminals are among fewer than 10 cargoes of sanctioned oil delivered into China on U.S.-designated vessels since the Shandong Port ban, a fraction of overall Chinese crude imports, based on information from traders and tanker tracking data from Vortexa Analytics and Kpler. The trade sources declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject. The U.S. sanctions and Shandong Port restrictions have driven up costs for Chinese refineries and stalled trade by pushing up freight rates, with costly non-sanctioned vessels joining to fill some of the shipping gap. On Tuesday, the U.S.-sanctioned Aframax-sized Si He delivered Russian ESPO Blend oil cargo into a terminal at Shandong's Dongying port, according to Vortexa and Kpler. The Dongying terminal is smaller than nearby facilities operated by Shandong Port Group such as in Qingdao, Rizhao and Yantai, and is operated by Baogang International, or BIPC, according to Vortexa. BIPC is controlled by privately-held Shandong Wanda Holdings. BIPC did not respond to emails seeking comment. Reuters could not reach the company by phone. In mid-January, the Guyana-flagged Nichola, previously named the Spirit of Casper, a U.S.-designated vessel, delivered about one million barrels of Iranian oil trans-shipped from Malaysia into a terminal in the southern city of Huizhou, according to Vortexa and a source who deals in sanctioned oil. The berth is operated by Huaying Petrochemical, a private storage and terminal firm controlled by Shanghai-listed Wintime Energy Group Co ( opens new tab. A Wintime investor relations official said the Huaying terminal received cargoes of Malaysian or Singaporean origin, but not Iranian, adding that it conducts business under Chinese law. The official said the terminal did not register the arrival of Spirit of Casper but didn't comment on Nichola. Iranian oil imported to China is often branded as originating from Malaysia. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil. SANCTIONS OPPOSITION Beijing has consistently opposed unilateral U.S. sanctions, defends oil trade with Iran as legitimate, and has refrained from condemning Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In response to Reuters' query on the terminal deliveries, China's foreign ministry reiterated that stance and asked the U.S. to stop disturbing or damaging normal trade between China and other nations. The January delivery was not the first time Huaying received Iranian shipments. According to Vortexa, the Huaying terminal offloaded some 7 million barrels of Iranian oil in 2023, all of which were reloaded on ships northwards to refining hub Shandong. Separately, a tank farm that opened in late 2023 at Huangzeshan island in eastern Zhejiang province received Iranian oil carried by the U.S.-sanctioned Clio in the second half of January, according to Vortexa and Kpler. Fury, another U.S.-designated vessel carrying Iranian oil, discharged at the same terminal on February 9, according to Vortexa, LSEG and Kpler. Nichola and Fury were designated on October 11. The facility is controlled by Zhejiang Energy Group, a provincial government-backed utility operator and energy trader. Calls to Zhejiang Energy went unanswered. The company did not respond to an emailed request for comment. While the BIPC terminal at Dongying is linked with an independent refinery, the Huaying and Huangzeshan terminals are designed mostly as transfer and blending hubs rather than directly serving refiners. Washington slapped its toughest-yet sanctions on the supply chain of Russian oil on Jan 10 by designating tankers that transport some 40% of Moscow's seaborne crude exports. China is Russia's No.2 customer of tanker-shipped oil after India. Last Thursday, the U.S. Treasury also imposed new sanctions on individuals and tankers helping to ship Iranian crude oil to China. President Donald Trump last week revived his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran that includes efforts to drive its oil exports to zero. The Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here.
