Woman noticed strange change in her skin before tragic death

A woman noticed her skin 'change colour' which led to a devastating diagnosis.

Sami Dabbagh, who lives in St Helens, says his aunt Sahar Saleh had noticed her skin 'turn yellow' before the then 59-year-old was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, but Sahar was given the all clear in 2017.

The cancer returned however, and Sahar sadly died in March 2021, aged 64.

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Sami told the ECHO : "What triggered the diagnosis is she was jaundiced, so her skin was essentially going yellow, and that is what led her to go to the doctors, this was around six years ago.

"She was having treatment for cancerous tumours but at that point there was an opportunity to do quite a risky operation called a Whipple procedure, which involved taking part of the organs affected by the tumours out."

Sahar Saleh tragically died last year, now her nephew Sami is running four marathons in her memory (Sami Dabbagh)

The procedure has a survival rate of between 20 and 25%, but Sahar's operation was successful, allowing the keen cyclist to live a 'healthy and active' life for several years.

Sami added: "It was like she had a new lease on life, it sounds a bit cheesy but it was certainly like a second chance at life.

"She was only in her 50s around this time, and she was generally a very bubbly, eccentric, active person."

Sahar Saleh tragically died last year, now her nephew Sami is running four marathons in her memory (Sami Dabbagh)

To remember his aunt, and also help support the charity which provided 'amazing' care for her, Sami is running four marathons across four different countries this year.

Sami will raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, who provided vital care for his aunt during her illness, as well as for Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

On Friday, March 18, Sami completed a ‘memory marathon’ visiting sentimental places to him and his aunt across Merseyside, including Clatterbridge Hospital where his aunt received treatment, and Willowbrook Hospice where she was also cared for, before finishing at his aunt's grave at St Helens Cemetery.

Sahar Saleh tragically died last year, now her nephew Sami is running four marathons in her memory (Sami Dabbagh)

The 30-year-old will now complete the following marathons in memory of his aunt:

• 15th May – Copenhagen
• 4th June – Stockholm
• 20th August – Helsinki
• 17th September – Oslo

To donate to Sami's fundraiser, click here.