A mum told she had months to live after her 'summer virus' turned out to be cancer may have an unexpected lifeline.
Katie Froggatt, 39, thought she was just fighting off a cold in the summer of 2021, but weeks later her breathing problems got out of control.
The mum from Southport, Merseyside, was soon told by doctors that she had an aggressive tumour - and that it was unlikely she'd see her young daughter grow up.
She was sent to undergo gruelling surgery and just before Christmas, she was told the heartbreaking news that her cancer was terminal and that she had less than a year to live.
But the mum-of-one has now been given fresh hope, the LiverpoolEcho report.
Katie is now delighted to discover that her cancer is shrinking and that treatment in Germany can help if she can secure the funding she needs.
Katie, who is married to Steven and mum of two-year-old Myla said: "After an awful six months being delivered the news just before Christmas that my cancer had spread to my lungs and was now stage four terminal with six to 12 months to live, my cancer is chemotherapy resistant and the chemo here in the UK will kill me before it touches the cancer, immunotherapy was my only option.
"Unfortunately the immunotherapy made me really ill and bed bound and had devastating effects on me and my cancer and it actually ramped the growth and nearly killed me in the making. I was bed bound from February to May, was two stone lighter and could barely look after Myla, never mind pick her up, bath her or put her to bed.
"On Friday I was told by the NHS there is nothing more they can do for me, but finally I have found a world-renowned professor and treatment in Frankfurt that actually works against my cancer and it’s currently shrinking.
"I have had significant reduction and now Professor Vogl is now speaking about stabilising my cancer with monthly visits to Frankfurt and he is confident he can get a grip of this.
"It’s the first time since being diagnosed nearly two years ago that someone has confidently said we can do this. These trips cost £5,000 a month on top of the £1,200 a week I have been spending at an amazing alternate treatment clinic that has honestly been the only thing that’s kept me alive."
Family and friends have since raised thousands of pounds to fund treatment for her, through a series of events. The next will be the Katie Froggatt Fundraising Festival, which will take place at Victoria Park in Southport on Saturday, July 15.
The special event is being organised by Mark Pickup, owner of Southport TV and Digital Media Boutique.
Mark is also looking for some volunteers for various parts of the festival or if you provide a service that can help him make this event the best it can be.
Katie added: "I just wanted to take this time to thank everybody that has donated and all the beautiful people that put together all of the amazing fundraisers because of each and everyone of you I am still here now. I can’t put into words how grateful me and my family are for everybody’s efforts and generosity.
"I wanted to take this time, now I am finally feeling stronger, to thank you all."
Mark Pickup said: "After the utterly amazing news that Katie's treatment in Germany is having a positive effect and shrinking her cancer we need another huge push to help fund these very expensive trips to Germany which are approx £5,000 a month to help get our disco unicorn back to full strength.
"So I’m putting together the Katie Froggatt Fundraising Festival at Victoria Park in Southport on Saturday 15th July 2023 for an afternoon of Soul, Funk and Disco in a marquee from 2pm-11pm with eight DJs, food trucks, stalls etc. Tickets are just £20 + BF via Skiddle and I've also added a 'not able to attend' ticket option for those who can't make it but still want to support our mate on her cancer journey."
Tickets can be purchased for the festival or donations made here.
