A Leeds dad-of-three was told to come into hospital for an infected insect bite - where blood tests revealed that he had leukaemia.
Joe Beckwith, from Morley, had been bitten by an insect in October 2022, and the bite wasn't healing. It became infected, and his sister Leanne advised him to call 111 in case it was something serious like sepsis.
He did, and on October 19 was advised to come straight to hospital to check the bite. Blood tests were done and Joe went home - only to be called back just a few hours later because his results were abnormal.
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Joe, 34, was told by doctors that his white blood cell count was extremely high - he had leukaemia. In just a few days, this was diagnosed as Acute Myloid Leukaemia - a cancer of the white blood cells that progresses quickly and aggressively.
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Leanne, 37, told LeedsLive: "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."
Joe was given antibiotics first to counteract his infected bite. Once he was ready, he started chemotherapy on October 27 in the Haematology department in the Bexley Wing at St James's Hospital.
He had chemo for a month, and then was able to come home for a bit of a rest. Joe received the fantastic news on December 9 that his leukaemia was in remission.
He does still need to have more chemo though - 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.
"He's very tired and very weak, but he's keeping his spirits up," Leanne added. "He can't do day-to-day things like go out for a walk as he gets too tired.
"Doctors have advised him not to go out really because his immune system is so low at the moment. He's just seeing the same four walls everyday, but he's taking it all in his stride."
Joe usually works putting down artificial lawns for people, but has not been able to work while he is receiving treatment, and is still waiting for illness claims to come through. His fiancée Ellie's mum Johanna 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.
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