SUFFERING with a stomach ache and fatigue, Jonathan Nichols' wife Kimberly urged her husband to see the doctor.
The 'fit and healthy' 45-year-old's symptoms had been persistent since last summer and also included unexplained weight loss.
After finally having blood tests and other checks, medics diagnosed Jonathan with chronic myeloid leukaemia.
Now the dad-of-four has been given just days to live, with his family making the most of their final moments together.
Kimberly, 47, said her husband had initially gone to the doctors with a positive attitude, 'thinking everything would be fine'.
However, the family, who live in Formby, Merseyside, were told that a consultant would be coming over from Manchester on Saturday afternoon to assess keen runner, Jonathan.
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Heartbroken Kimberly said at this point she was calling her husband to find out what was wrong.
While he was at hospital, the dad accidentally text Kimberly his medical records, revealing his shocking diagnosis.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Kimberly said Jonathan was immediately started on treatment which at first went well.
But it soon stopped working, with doctors pulling out all the stops to fight the deadly illness.
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They tried all lines of defence but nothing worked, with medics even giving him harsh chemotherapy to give him the best chance, the mum said.
After these options failed, Jonathan, who lives in Leeds with his family, was told that he had just weeks to live.
Experts this week said there was nothing more they could do for the academy trust chief executive.
In a phone called with medics, Kimberley questioned whether her husband still had 'weeks to live', but they told her it 'would be days'.
He has now returned home, where he is receiving palliative care.
Kimberley and her children Joshua, 28, Joel, 22, Oliver, 13 and Tabatha, eight, are now holding on to each day they have left as a family.
The mum said: "It’s been horrific. If someone were to tell us at the time that it would be days, you’d crave these weeks. But they’ve been really difficult.
What is chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)?
Chronic myeloid leukaemia is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells and tends to progress slowly over many years, the NHS states.
It can occur at any age, but is most common in those aged between 60 and 65 years old.
For people with the condition, the spongy material inside some bones (bone marrow) produces too many myeloid cells.
These immature white blood cells don't work properly as they are not fully developed.
Guidance states that the main symptoms of the condition in include:
- tiredness
- weight loss
- night sweats
- tenderness and swelling in the left side of your tummy
- feeling full after small meals
- pale skin and shortness of breath
- a high temperature
- bruising and bleeding easily
- frequent infections
- bone pain
You should see your GP if you have any symptoms you're worried about.
In the event of an emergency, always call 999.
"We’ll cherish them. We had a fish and chip night and sat in the bedroom together and he managed to do letters for everyone, he’s written birthday cards."
Kimberly said 'life has been cruel' to her family, and that it just keeps getting harder.
"He has two young children and I don’t want their memories of their dad to be that way. I wouldn’t wish this part on anyone to go through," she added.
Five weeks on from the diagnosis, doctors say they have been mesmerised by Jonathan's positivity.
He's still not taken a day off work and Kimberly said she has received many messages with people commenting on what an inspiration Jonathan has been to them.
During his chemotherapy, the dad had his laptop on and was still doing Zoom meetings, the mum said.
In order to help fund research into cancer, Jonathan's son Joshua is running the Manchester Marathon to raise money for the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.
The Clatterbridge Cancer centre on the Wirral helped to care for Jonathan during his treatment period.
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The fund raising page states: "Jonathan has brightened the lives of many people purely by being the person he is.
"I hope that this fundraiser will help Clatterbridge in giving other families the chance to see their loved ones fight and overcome Cancer as well as say 'Thank You' for the care they have provided Jonathan.'
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