My fella had been given a devastating diagnosis. But I refused to give up... By Michelle Shore
Watching Corrie with my boyfriend Craig, I noticed he was squinting at the screen.
‘There’s something wrong with my left eye,’ he said.
Craig, 53, had been complaining about blurred vision for days. He’d felt dizzy too.
‘You should see the optician,’ I told him.
He got an appointment and during tests, they found something at the back of Craig’s eye.
Months later, he saw a specialist. When he called me afterwards, I wasn’t prepared for what he told me.
‘I’ve got cancer,’ he said.
I listened stunned as he explained that scans had revealed a rare tumour called an uveal melanoma in his eye.
Although proton beam treatment successfully targeted the tumour, he needed MRI scans every six months to make sure the cancer hadn’t spread.
A year and two clear scans on, we were looking forward to celebrating Christmas.
After tearing open my pressie from Craig, I thanked him then popped it to one side.
‘Aren’t you going to try it on?’ he asked, looking crestfallen.
‘No need,’ I said.
I’d picked the fluffy brown coat from Next myself, so I knew it was the right size.
But Craig wouldn’t give up, so to keep him happy, I slipped it on – and found something in the pocket.
I pulled out a ring box and Craig said, ‘Will you marry me?’
‘Yes!’ I gasped.
After a tough couple of years, this felt like our happy ending.
Three months on, Craig had another clear scan. But soon after, he was invited to take part in a clinical trial and doctors discovered a 5mm lesion on his liver.
And the prognosis was devastating. Doctors explained that chemotherapy wasn’t an option and as the cancer was stage four, Craig had less than 18 months to live.
‘I can’t lose you,’ I told him, in tears.
I went online and found a treatment called chemosaturation, which had been used to successfully treat the type of cancer Craig had.
Only it wasn’t available on the NHS yet and would cost at least £120,000. We cashed in the life cover on our mortgage but it wasn’t enough, so I told Craig we’d need to start fundraising.
‘This is life or death,’ I told him.
A month on, Craig and I made our vows in a small but beautiful winter wedding, celebrating in a pub that was all decked out for Christmas.
With the help of family, friends and our local community we’ve raised enough to pay for three rounds of treatment and the tumour has shrunk.
Now, as we celebrate our first wedding anniversary, I’m desperately trying to raise money for more.
I’m not ready to lose my wonderful man, so that really would be the best present I could ask for this Christmas.
• To donate, visit gofundme.com and search for ‘Craig’s Life Saving Cancer Treatment’
Uveal melanoma
What is it?
A very rare cancer, it develops from cells found in the uvea – the middle layer of tissue around the eyeball.
What are the symptoms?
It can be symptomless, but may cause visual disturbances.
What’s the treatment?
Radiation treatment, proton beam therapy, a radioactive plaque on the eye, a drug injected into your arm then activated by a laser shone into the eye, surgical removal of the tumour, or eye removal.
Where can I find out more?
Visit macmillan.org.uk and search for ‘eye cancer’.