A mum and gran was given the harrowing news she has just weeks to live after pain in her back was diagnosed as cancer.
Christine Emery suffered from backache for years, but the pain recently got worse and was sent home from work by employer Lidl. Several trips to the doctor eventually led to medics suggesting she had arthritis or gallstones.
However, last month she was told she had stage four pancreatic cancer, which had spread to other parts of her body.
The 50-year-old's son Ben Emery, 29, told the Liverpool ECHO: "It was only the fourth doctor who actually examined her stomach. The first one said it could be arthritis, the second one said it could have been gallstones. The third one I think sent her for bloods.
"Then the fourth one actually felt her stomach and said 'no, something is not right'. Then I think they followed up on her bloods and some bloods were really high.
"And they said 'this can't be right' and sent her for more bloods. They came back exactly the same and he said 'you need to go into hospital now'."
Ben said the news "broke him". Christine is also mum to his brother, Alfie, and gran to Ben's daughter. He described Christine as an "incredible" mum to him and Alfie.
He said: "For me and Alfie she would give us her last bit of food. Mum has always given us everything she could.
"Mum is always helping everyone. Every day she will always be out, driving people to places. There was a lady who used to come into her work in Lidl and I think she used to struggle with going back and to and my mum used to help her. She's incredible.
"She was at the till in pain thinking 'oh it is just my back, I'll be fine' but it was work who sent her home for a week. That was when she started going to the doctors and things."
Christine's family have now set up a GoFundMe to help the Warrington native. Friend Natalie Murphy said: "I want to take some stress off her to help her children to make memories.
"Anyone who knows Christine knows she’s an amazing person, helps everyone, the best mum, best nan, sister, auntie and best friend. Just a kind loyal, caring, beautiful soul, so loved by many only has to meet you once and you won’t forget her. Any help would be appreciated."
To donate to the GoFundMe page, please click here.
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