A woman from Stockport has welcomed a miracle baby boy into the world after having her ovaries removed during treatment for a rare type of cancer.
38-year-old Stacey Broadmeadow’s life was flipped upside down when she was sadly diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) back in 2018.
PMP is a rare form of cancer that starts in the lining of the appendix.
With symptoms including loss of appetite, unexpected weight gain, and stomach pain, PMP is where a jelly-like substance called mucin is produced and bursts out of the appendix, and sees cells begin spreading around the tummy.
“I had never heard of PMP before I was diagnosed,” Stacey admitted.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I noticed some abnormal bleeding, and the only reason I went to the doctor was the desire to start a family. I was worried something would affect my fertility and wanted to check everything was okay, but I never expected it to be cancer.
“My first thought after being diagnosed was that I’d never be a mum, it was absolutely devastating.”
ADVERTISEMENT
"I’m in a bubble of love and can’t imagine my life without him.”
Stacey Broadmeadow has become a mum to Harry after having her ovaries removed as part of her treatment for a rare cancer at The Christie.
People with PMP often need major surgery to remove the tissue lining in the abdominal cavity, and save organs that are at risk of implants from the abnormal cells – including the gallbladder, the spleen, and parts of the bowel – and then once the surgery has been performed, heated chemotherapy (HIPEC) is introduced into the abdomen to kill any unseen tumour cells.
In Stacey’s case, her ovaries needed to be removed as part of her operation, and so she had her eggs harvested and frozen.
After receiving world-class care and treatment at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust right here in Manchester, Stacey has beaten the odds to give birth to a baby boy following the all clear from the one-in-a-million type of cancer.
ADVERTISEMENT
Stacey received treatment at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester / Credit: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
“All my harvested eggs were used during the IVF process,” Stacey continued.
“I was only able to create two embryos. I had my first round of IVF in August 2021, and unfortunately, that ended in a miscarriage. I only had one embryo left and had my final round in February last year. The doctors weren’t sure whether it was going to work as the embryo was not as good as the previous one, but it was successful, and my beautiful son Harry arrived in mid-November.
“I can’t even put into words how I feel. I’m in a complete bubble of love and can’t imagine my life without him.”
Stacey has thanked her consultant, Professor Sarah O’Dwyer, and clinical nurse specialst, Rebecca Halstead, saying they were “brilliant” throughout her treatment, as well as heaping praise on The Christie as “one of only two centres in the country that treat rare abdominal cancers like mine”.
“I’m so lucky to have it on my doorstep,” she concluded.
Featured Image – The Christie NHS
News
TfGM confirms Metrolink strikes have been called off this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Metrolink strikes that were planned across Greater Manchester this weekend have now been suspended, it has been confirmed.
With the tens of thousands of people heading to some of the biggest events in the city’s cultural calendar this weekend preparing for significant disruption due to planned industrial action on the Metrolink network, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Unite has now confirmed that these strikes have been called off.
Strike action was planned by Metrolink staff who are Unite members after the union said they “are angry” at only being offered a 5% increase on pay for a 15 month period, and proposed to move the annual pay anniversary date back from 1 January to 1 April.
Unite also said that starting salaries at Metrolink are “very low” – with tram inspectors starting from £20,000, drivers from £22,000, and engineers from £26,000.
The union’s General Secretary said Metrolink are “guilty of making a woeful offer to our members”.
🚨Breaking🚨 The #Manchester Metrolink tram strike due to take place this weekend (Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June) has been suspended following an improved pay offer.
— Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) June 7, 2023
TfGM had been warning that those making their way to major events, such as Courteeners and Parklife festival at Heaton Park, at Soccor Aid at Old Trafford, as well as to massive gigs the Etihad Stadium and AO Arena, should expect more disruption than normal over the weekend – with tram, bus, and rail services predicted to be “exceptionally busy”.
But now, it has been confirmed that strike action has been called off.
Metrolink said in a statement on its website: The Metrolink tram strike due to take place this weekend has been suspended, [and] services will now run as normal. If you have any queries, we will be available on Twitter from early doors until late in the evening.”
Strikes set to impact the Metrolink network this weekend [Sat 10 & Sun 11 June] have been suspended.
Services will operate as normal, but are expected to be significantly busier due to the multiple events taking place across the region.
— Transport for Greater Manchester 🚲🚶🏾♀️ (@OfficialTfGM) June 7, 2023
Talks between Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Unite have been taking place all week, and an improved – but undisclosed – pay offer was made yesterday, which will now be put to a vote by the the union’s members, with Mr Burnham taking to Twitter to explain: “I am pleased to say this weekend’s strike action on the Metrolink has been called off.
“I have been working to bring the two sides together and am grateful to Unite and KeolisAmey for reaching agreement on an improved offer that will now be put to members.
It is of course for Unite members to decide whether to accept this offer and we can’t pre-empt that, so strike action is therefore only suspended, but trams will be running this weekend and this is good news for everyone going to Parklife and other big events.”
It is of course for @unitetheunion members to decide whether to accept this offer and we can’t pre-empt that. Strike action is therefore only suspended.
But trams will be running this weekend and this is good news for everyone going to @Parklifefest and other big events.👍🏻
Addressing the outcome of the talks and the proposed pay offer, Colin Hayden – Regional Officer at Unite – said in a statement: “Unite made it clear from the outset that Metrolink was fully able to make an improved offer and as a result of the intervention of the Mayor that has now occurred.
“Our members will now be balloted on the offer and they will decide if it meets their expectations.”
Despite the Metrolink strikes having been called off, TfGM is still advising that it’s “vital” for anyone heading to events this weekend to “plan ahead wherever and whenever you are travelling”.
Read the latest travel advice for this weekend on the TfGM website here.
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Family of murdered Salah Adam Eldin, 21, pay tribute to ‘beautiful son and true hero’
Daisy Jackson
The family of Salah Adam Eldin, a 21-year-old stabbed to death in Old Trafford last week, have paid a heartbreaking tribute to a ‘genuine and loving soul’.
Salah sadly died on Wednesday 31 May after he was found with serious injuries on Kings Road.
A murder investigation has been launched, and 19-year-old Demari Adrian Raymond Rose has been charged with murder and possession of a bladed article.
Salah’s family have described him as ‘the backbone of the family’ and described his respectful, kind and caring nature.
They wrote that support has poured in from across the globe, saying that ‘he was so much to so many people’.
In a tribute issued through GMP, his family said: “Salah was the backbone of the family and carried the family through anything and everything. He was our precious, beautiful son and a true hero.
“He was a supportive brother and precious son, a most genuine and loving soul with a big heart. He always found space in his heart to forgive all.
“He was always respectful and had kind words to say for all, everyone who met him wanted to be friends with him and was respected by all people of all ages.
“We are immensely proud of him. The continuous tributes from his friends, as far and wide as Africa, North America, The Middle East, Europe and from every corner of the world as well as here at home in England, his friends coming with heavy hearts and tears of deep sadness.
“Yes, our heart is filled with grief and pain, the reality that we will no longer hear his voice on the end of the phone. We grieve and wait for the day that we will one day all be reunited as a family together again and it will be forever.
“As a family we are able to support one another with the help of the wonderful friends and family that we have in the community and beyond. The support has been immeasurable, with everyone suffering the same pain and loss of Salah. He was so much to so many people. His short time in this world, he has his legacy of being a kind and caring young man and so loved. The amount of people who have reached out to support us, it is overwhelming and yet wonderful at the same time.
“As a mother, I have no words to describe the depth of my pain, grief and sorrow that I am going through, and I wish no mother must experience the layers of sadness and grief that I and Salah’s siblings and family are going through.
“Our lives have changed forever and we thank Greater Manchester Police for doing all they can to get justice and who have been very supportive, and we thank endless stream of friends and the community from the bottom of our hearts for their continuous love and support that they give us.”
Salah’s family have asked for continued privacy while they grieve for their loss.