A father of three was sent to the hospital to get an infected insect bite looked at but blood tests later revealed a shocking diagnosis. In October last year, Joe Beckwith got bitten by an insect and the wound wasn't healing after it became infected.
His sister Leanne told him to ring 111, as she was concerned he might have sepsis - a deadly infection that happens when a person's immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage the body. He took his sister's advice and dialled the number, then on October 19 he was told to go to the hospital, where he had some blood tests done and was then sent home.
But he was called back to the hospital just a few short hours later, where doctors told him that his white blood cell count was extremely high - he had leukaemia.
Leanne, 37, exclusively spoke to LeedsLive, she said: "Our world came crashing down. It's been awful - I wouldn't wish it on anybody. If he hadn't have gone in he wouldn't have a clue - he didn't have any other symptoms but some night sweats he'd brushed off.
"He couldn't see his kids at Christmas - he hasn't been able to see one of them that lives in Liverpool since he was diagnosed. We were all ill over Christmas and because his immune system is so weak it was too dangerous for him to see them.
"It's been really tough and terrible to see. He's so strong and getting through it - it would mean the world to us just to be able to help him a little."
Doctors first put Joe on antibiotics for the insect bite, before then starting him on chemotherapy. From October 27, he underwent chemo for one month.
He was then able to go home for a bit of a rest. Joe received the fantastic news on December 9 that his leukaemia was in remission.
Doctors have told him he will still need more chemo, and Joe is currently undergoing constant blood and platelet transfusions everyday. To start his next round of chemo, his extremely low platelet count will need to be much higher.
Joe' fiancée Ellie's mum Joanne came up with the idea of raising some money to help him out by the family by the whole family pledging to do over 10,000 steps a day each day of February.
Leanne said: "There's such a massive financial burden from cancer. We really wanted to do something to help Joe so they don't have to just rely on Ellie's income and he can pay his bills.
"It'll just make things a bit easier for him and his family so he can focus on his health. We don't want him panicking he can't pay the bills.
"And Joe said everyone in the Bexley wing is so lovely, so he wanted to do something for them too. So half the money we raise will go to him and half to the Bexley wing."
As of Tuesday night, Joe's family have already raised just over £1,500, which Leanne said was wonderful. "There's so many kind people out there," she added.
