A "selfless" woman who spent years fighting for answers about her constant bouts of sickness now only has days left to live after marrying her husband. Ashleigh McMahon, 29, first started experiencing symptoms in 2018 of what doctors initially believed to be cyclical vomiting syndrome before she was later diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
However, she had no idea that it would be the beginning of a six-year health battle, as the reality of her condition was sadly far more serious, the Liverpool ECHO reports. Ashleigh took a turn for the worse in January 2023 and was admitted to Royal Liverpool Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a rare aggressive type of ovarian cancer called mucinous ovarian carcinoma.
After a "magical" wedding with her long term partner of 11 years on Monday April 3, the newlywed, who now only has days left to live, has urged other women to "listen to their bodies" and "fight for your diagnosis".
She said: "This is for awareness. Awareness of cervical cancer, awareness of self-awareness of your own body, and awareness that doctors are not always right, awareness that ovarian cysts are not always common.
"Sometimes they are complex, sometimes they are more than expected. And if something doesn't feel right - fight for your diagnosis, fight for your health, fight for your sanity, fight for your family and fight for your life."
Ashleigh, a call handler for BT, was sent for a scan in 2019 after suffering for years with pelvic pain, stomach bloating, sickness and irregular periods. Doctors discovered a 14cm ovarian cyst, which was one of several that would develop as time went on.
Ashleigh said: "Ovarian cysts can be common and usually go on their own - but anything above 5cm is a concern. My first was 14cm, my second 16cm, and my recent was a complex 20cm.
"Around three to four years of illness, two years consisting of four surgeries, and my cysts were borderline cancer. This resulted in a full hysterectomy, part of my stomach removed, the omentum of my bowel removed and my appendix."
Ashleigh had her last ovarian cyst removed in December at Royal Liverpool Hospital and was allowed to return home on Boxing Day. In an moving Facebook post, she wrote: "To the nurses who have cared for me over the past few weeks, picked me up on my worst days with hugs, reassurance and support, helped calm me down when I have cried until my eyes have burned, popped their heads in to say good morning, helped me and encouraged me and told me I was stronger than I felt in those moments, and selflessly continued their work whilst they could have spent the entire day on a picket line and left us with nothing because there was no plan for our care during their strikes - they deserve their pay rise and more. They deserve the recognition for the incredible, selfless work they do in our most vulnerable moments."
She was readmitted on January 20 when she finally received her heart breaking cancer diagnosis. She and her partner, John were given the dreaded news after two months of failed chemotherapy that there was nothing more doctors could do and Ashleigh was placed on end of life care.
John, 35, said: "It's hard to put into words how we felt. It felt like the ground had swallowed us up. It's hard to even talk about. It devastated us."
The couple were given a special licence to get married on short notice and tied the knot together on Monday, April 3. John said: "We knew we had to do it now, because it was getting progressively worse.
"On Monday the hospital got in touch with the registry office for us, I got a call at 9.30am, and we married at 2.30pm in a private room on her ward. It was magical, I couldn't have asked for anything better. The hospital went above and beyond for us and I can't express how thankful we are."
However, instead of looking forward to their honeymoon in Prague, the newlyweds are now taking on the heartbreaking task of planning Ashleigh's funeral. Their friend, Demi Gaskin has sent up an online fundraiser to help cover the costs of the service.
As they spend their final days together, John has vowed to carry on his wife's legacy and spread her message far and wide as he encourages women to seek help for any health concerns they have before it's too late. He said: "No woman should have to deal with anything like this. It's not fair.
"It's something I've promised Ashleigh I will do, I'll fight her corner and advocate for how important it is to check yourself and trust your own body. It's been a hard few years. She's been a warrior.
"She's one of the most amazing, big-hearted, compassionate, selfless women to ever walk this earth. Everyone she touches has something positive to say. I've never known anyone to have a bad thing to say about her. Her love is pure - she taught me how to love.
"I just want to share Ashleigh's message, how hard she's fought. She has never relented, even on her worst days. I just want the world to know what a beautiful, good-hearted person she is, and how strongly she fought for what she believed in."
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