When Ange Lovejoy pictured motherhood, it was a role she thought she'd tackle with the same tenacity and resolution she had approached every other life milestone.
But after a pregnancy marred by ill health and an eventual weakened immune system, the 32-year-old from Brisbane knew the battle that lay ahead was unlike anything she had faced before.
At first it was the severity of her symptoms, which left the mother-of-one reeling and in need of a diagnosis.
Swollen legs to the point they turned purple, split skin, throbbing joints - and a level of pain that eventually left her bed bound and unable to walk.
Ange Lovejoy (pictured, right, with her partner Scott and daughter Raven) imagined motherhood, it was a role she thought she'd tackle with the same tenacity and resolution she had approached every other life milestone
But after a pregnancy marred by ill health and an eventual weakened immune system, the 32-year-old from Brisbane knew the battle that lay ahead was unlike anything she had faced before
Doctors brushed it off as an unknown auto-immune disease - and swiftly sent Ange back to her GP.
'They did some tests but it seemed like they couldn't wait to get me out (of the hospital) while I was still having Fentanyl injections in my stomach to cope with the pain,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'I managed to stay out of hospital for two days in absolute agony and went to my GP as soon as she opened and I was sent straight to the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
'I spent a month there, which was really difficult. No one had any idea what was wrong with me – they still thought it was autoimmune.'
Within months of her daughter Raven's birth in Febuary this year, a life once dominated by ultra-marathons and weekly five-kilometre fun runs was ruled by medical tests, crippling pain and teams of doctors left scratching their heads.
Ange was forced to quit her newly-promoted job in project management and the young family now has to rely solely on the income of her partner Scott.
Finally, in late August the long awaited - but dreaded - diagnosis came.
Despite her severe symptoms, doctors terrifyingly brushed Ange's illness off as a unknown auto-immune disease - and swiftly sent her back to her GP
Within months of her daughter Raven's birth in Febuary this year, a life once dominated by ultra-marathons and weekly five-kilometre fun runs was ruled by medical tests, crippling pain and teams of doctors left scratching their heads
Ange had blood cancer, specifically B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
While lymphoma is often seen as one of the most treatable cancers, Ange's form was among the rarest. It was also stage four and ultimately, incurable.
'I'll never be cancer free, I'll never beat it,' she said.
'They're giving me chemo from next week and other drugs which will hopefully freeze the cancer for a while but it will continue to grow and I'll have to do it again in the future.
'It's just going to be about living with a deal of uncertainty we never thought we would.'
While lymphoma is often seen as one of the most treatable cancers, Ange's form was among the rarest. It was also stage four and ultimately, incurable. 'I'll never be cancer free, I'll never beat it,' she said
Compounding the family's woes is their landlord's decision to sell their home - leaving Ange, Scott and Raven with just a month's notice before the forced move.
Luckily for the trio, community support has been widespread, with a close friend starting a GoFundMe in a bid to ease financial pressure.
The move comes weeks before Ange is due to start her first 18-week stint of chemotherapy.
But despite the seemingly grim prognosis, more than 80 per cent of people battling the same strain of lymphoma survive for more than five years.
'We're just going to have to learn how to live with it and the uncertainty that comes with it,' she said.
Despite the seemingly grim prognosis, more than 80 per cent of people battling the same strain of lymphoma survive for more than five years and the family after hopeful for the future
'Now we can't just go 'well, we're going to do this in ten years'. We've had to do the 'adulting' and answer the hard questions about what we want for our future.'
Included in that those hopeful plans is a sibling for Raven and living 'as normal as possible for as long as possible' - approached with the same tenacity and resolution she always has.
'It's difficult relying on other people when I've always been so independent and driven – in workplaces and in my personal life,' she said.
'But you can't sit in a gutter and cry about it when it comes down to it, you just have to get down to business and get things done.'
To support Ange Lovejoy and her family, find her GoFundMe here.
Linkhienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/20/brisbane-mother-ange-lovejoy-reveals-life-after-shock-lymphoma-cancer-diagnosis/
Main photo article When Ange Lovejoy pictured motherhood, it was a role she thought she’d tackle with the same tenacity and resolution she had approached every other life milestone.
But after a pregnancy marred by ill health and an eventual weakened immune system, the 32-year-old from Brisbane knew the b...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/20/03/506DB87300000578-6183819-Ange_Lovejoy_pictured_right_with_her_partner_Scott_and_daughter_-a-9_1537411658688.jpg
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