A pregnant mum is facing a heartbreaking race against time after doctors gave her just 24 hours to live - over a month ago. Carrie Dodds, who was diagnosed with acute Myeloid Leukaemia on June 26, is desperate to keep fighting the disease so she can give birth and marry the man of her dreams.
The 40-year-old says she is still here "against all odds", after concerned medics told her she may not survive for more than a day. The mum-of-five from Blackpool, who is currently 25 weeks pregnant, hopes to fulfil her dream of marrying her partner, Shaun, who she describes as her soulmate, reports Lancashire Live.
Carrie has been described by friends as "an absolute lioness" as she continues to fight the disease while protecting her unborn baby. She said her daughter will hopefully be induced at 32 weeks in order for her to receive stem cell treatment.
Carrie and Shaun have been set a date at The Wedding Chapel on Blackpool promenade on September 2. She said she had been misdiagnosed over the past year after having a caesarean section two years ago.
She added: "It had attacked my body so quick, my white blood cells were at 198, so I had to have chemotherapy and a blood wash. Once I had that, [the doctor] said I could have a future and that's when I started to pick up," she explained.
Since being diagnosed, Carrie has been in and out of hospital for six weeks. She now returns every day for therapy.
She said: "I've got eight days of chemo, and then I'll go to Manchester for the bone marrow at the end. I think I've got three or four rounds of chemo and I've got to have my baby at 32 weeks because I can't have the stem cell treatment while I'm pregnant because it's dangerous to her."
Not knowing what Carrie's circumstances will be like in the future, marrying Shaun was the one thing she wanted to do. In a bid to ease the pressure on family and "give them their one special day", a fundraiser is asking for donations to make sure Carrie "feels like a princess after all her fight" and to give her "the strength to keep fighting by showing her how much she is loved".
Speaking before their wedding date was set, Carrie said: "Honestly, we appreciate any help we can get as the Wedding Chapel is going to get us married as soon as possible as I don't know how far or how long I'm going to get in the treatment.
"They told me I had 24 hours to live and here I am against all the odds. I don't know how far I will get but here is hoping I beat this awful disease, my dream and wish, with me having very little family and no mum and dad, is to marry my soul mate, my best friend, my rock and life partner.
"I have five other children as well who are helping us along the way to make my dream come true."
When The Wedding Chapel confirmed the date, Carrie said: "Just to know I am going to have my dream come true is making me want to fight back more and take my life back that they said I wasn't going to have, I'm a warrior and am giving it my all."
While having her two-hour treatment, Carrie said the nurses commented on her "beautiful smile" and added: "It's about time we sin a happy Carrie".
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