Athletic woman faces terminal prognosis after leukemia diagnosis
- In August 2023, Olivia noticed concerning symptoms while competing in a Half Ironman event.
- After being misdiagnosed with long Covid, she was later diagnosed with aggressive acute myeloid leukaemia.
- Despite initial success in treatment, her cancer returned just months later, leading to a prognosis of only months to live.
In November 2023, a 33-year-old athletic woman named Olivia faced a harrowing medical ordeal that began with odd symptoms she experienced while participating in the Half Ironman World Championship in Lahti, Finland, during August 2023. Initially feeling that something was amiss during the race, she dismissed her concerns as fatigue potentially related to long Covid, especially since her health did not seem to decline otherwise. However, her condition worsened, culminating in a hospital admission just days later where she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukaemia after presenting with severe toothache and signs of sepsis. Olivia embarked on an intense treatment journey that included extensive chemotherapy with the aim of clearing her bone marrow of cancerous cells. While her treatment started positively, she was faced with unexpected complications along the way. Despite going through harsh therapies and anticipating the possibility of a relapse given the nature of her illness, she was blindsided when her leukaemia returned at the beginning of March 2025 after she had shown promising signs of recovery post stem cell transplant. Throughout 2024, Olivia not only endured various rounds of chemotherapy but also experienced multiple relapses in her condition, which took a significant toll on her physical and emotional well-being. Always the optimist, she expressed that if given the chance, her greatest desire would be to take her dog for a run and return to a semblance of normality at work. The stark reality of her situation led her to reflect on her life choices and her previous overall health, as she had previously considered herself relatively fit and healthy. As she continued to undergo treatment and navigate her prognosis, Olivia also contemplated the future of cancer treatment, voicing hope for advancements in therapies for acute myeloid leukaemia. The teams at the hospitals where she received treatment were reportedly on the brink of significant breakthroughs with innovations such as Car-T treatment, which fostered her desire for any possible research contributions. Olivia's story is one of both struggle and resilience, shining a spotlight on the importance of proper diagnosis and the devastating impact of delayed recognition of life-threatening conditions.