A fit and healthy dad-of-four has been given weeks to live after complaining of stomach pains.
Jonathan Nicols, 45, first started experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss and stomach aches in summer 2021. The keen runner put the weight loss down to the fact he was running 30k a week.
When his symptoms persisted and worsened, his wife Kimberly urged him to go to the doctors. Jonathan attended his local GP surgery for routine blood checks but was asked to come back for further examination just to be safe.
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One day, Jonathan received a phone call from the surgery and was asked to attend the clinic in person, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Jonathan's wife Kimberley said: "He went in there really positive thinking everything was going to be fine.
"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 the hospital, Jonathan was told he has chronic myeloid leukaemia. The disease affects the white blood cells and tends to progress slowly over many years.
The Leeds-born dad, who now lives in Formby, Merseyside, immediately began treatment, which appeared to be going well. Jonathan began putting on weight and his family noticed he looked a lot healthier.
But the treatment soon stopped working, leading doctors to try every method possible in an attempt to fight the cancer.
"They tried all lines, but nothing worked," Kimberley continued. "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.
"I knew, I kind of just knew," Kimberley said, recalling the moment the family were given the news. "I just had that gut feeling. I was in Jonathan's room and he always had his blinds open. I could see them all meeting and talking.
"They all came in together and I knew it wasn't good news. The consultant bent down on his knees, held his hands and said his condolences."
Jonathan then returned home to receive palliative care, but incredibly, five weeks on, he continues to defy the odds as doctors have been left "mesmerised" by his inspiring positivity. Kimberley says since Jonathan's diagnosis, he has not taken one day off work as his job as CEO of an academy trust.
"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," Kimberley, who met Jonathan while on a weekend away in Dublin 19 years ago, continued. "It's just the person he is.
"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."
Kimberley and her children Joshua, 28, Joel, 22, Oliver, 13 and Tabatha, eight, now appreciate every moment they have with Jonathan while he is with them at home.
"It's been horrific," Kimberley continued as she became emotional. "If someone were to tell us at the time that it would be days, you'd crave these weeks. But they've been really difficult.
"We'll cherish them. 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."
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