A fit and healthy dad-of-four has been told he has just weeks left to live after suffering from stomach aches and weight loss. Jonathan Nichols, 45 was given the devastating news on January 21, 2023 that he only had a matter of days left with his family after he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia.
The 'inspiring' father, who is a keen runner, first started experiencing symptoms in the summer of 2021 but put his fatigue and weight loss down to the fact he was running 30k a week. However, when his symptoms persisted his wife, Kimberly Nicols urged him to see a doctor, the MEN reports.
The family's world fell apart when Jonathan was first given his diagnosis but his body seemed to be responding well to treatment. Sadly, it stopped working and doctors explored multiple other avenues before informing Jonathan that his illness was now terminal.
Recalling the day which they received the heartbreaking news, Kimberly spoke of her 'gut feeling' as she watched the doctors and nurse gather in the corridor before entering his room together. A consultant knelt down beside Jonathan and took his hand as he told him his leukaemia treatment had failed and there was nothing more they could do.
Kimberly asked: 'How long?' to which the doctor confirmed her worst fears and replied: 'Weeks'. Speaking of when he first received his diagnosis, she said: “He went in there really positive thinking everything was fine to be fine. It was going to be nothing.
The dad had visited doctors for a routine blood test but medics wanted him back for further checks just to be safe. He later received a phone call and was told doctors wanted to see him in a hospital in Liverpool to discuss his results.
Kimberly said: “He was told a consultant was coming over from Manchester. That gave him concern – that someone was coming over on a Saturday afternoon.
"By this time, I was ringing and upset. I wanted to know what was going on.” While at hospital, Jonathan accidentally text Kimberly his medical notes and that's how she discovered he had chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML).
CML is a type of cancer that affects the white blood cells and tends to progress slowly over a long period of time. It can occur at any age but is most common in adults between 60 to 65 years of age.
Jonathan, who is from Leeds, but now lives in Formby Merseyside immediately began treatment. He started gaining weight and his family noticed he looked healthier.
However, the treatment was not effective for long and doctors were forced to find alternative solutions. Kimberley explained: “They tried all lines, but nothing worked. They gave him harsh chemotherapy to give him the best chance.”
Sadly, every avenue of treatment failed to work including a bone marrow and stem cell transplant. On January 21, 2023, doctors told Jonathan he had just weeks left to live.
Speaking of the dreadful news, Kimberley said: "I knew, I kind of just knew". Jonathan was then taken home where he received palliative cares.
Kimberley spoke with a member of the palliative team on the phone and asked them: "Are we still talking weeks?" She continued: “They said it was days and I didn’t tell a soul. I didn’t tell anyone that information.”
Miraculously, five weeks on, Jonathan continues to defy doctors' prognosis who have been left 'mesmerised' by his strength and inspiring positivity. Since his diagnosis, he's not taken a single day off work as his job as CEO of an academy trust.
Kimberley proudly said: “The amount of messages I’ve had saying what an impact he’s had on their lives and how he’s motivated them to be a better person". The couple met on a weekend away in Dublin 19 years ago and share four children together, Joshua, 28, Joel, 22, Oliver, 13 and Tabatha, eight.
She said: “When he was having his transplant, he had his laptop open and was doing Zoom calls while attached to chemo. It’s not like he’s saying, ‘Look at me,’ it’s about his love of his job.
"It’s about doing better for education and every child.” The family have now been spending as much time together for possible as Kimberley said they will 'cherish' the recent weeks they've spent together.
She added: "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. Life has been cruel and every time I feel like we’ve got over a day, the next day gets harder.
"His one wish was that he always wanted to be at home and not a hospice. 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.” Jonathan's sun is now set to run the Manchester Marathon to raise money for the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity which helped care for his dad during his time at the Clatterbridge Cancer centre.
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