After bruises began inexplicably appearing on her body, 22-year-old mum Sarah Armstrong went to see her doctor to get some answers.
One week later she was dead leaving a two-year-old daughter motherless and devastating her partner and friends.
The health care assistant had noted the bruises along with flu-like symptoms, but assumed she had caught something from working at Aintree Hospital.
But those around her were crushed when she suffered a stroke and died one week after her shock diagnosis.
Childhood friend Danielle Johnson, 22, told the Liverpool Echo: "No one can believe it, everyone is in bits and shocked.
"Sarah was coming out in all these bruises and she had been telling me she couldn't explain where they were coming from.
"I said you need to get an appointment and go to the doctors.
"She went to the doctor and they said she would need to get a blood test. On the same day they called her to say 'you need to go to A&E, you're going to have to go now'."
"Amazing" mum-of-one Sarah, from Fazakerley, was given the heartbreaking news she had acute myeloid leukemia.
Danielle said her friend, who was "always laughing", did not realise how serious things were.
She wanted her story and pictures to be shared to raise awareness in the hope other people will be able to spot the signs sooner - and maybe save their lives.
Sarah was diagnosed with a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, on January 24 and immediately started chemotherapy treatment on January 29.
She died on February 1.
Despite receiving the devastating diagnosis, Danielle said Sarah was "very positive and strong" even though she faced the gruelling treatment.
She said: "She was just full of life. I just can't believe it, we were sitting there laughing the night before she died. She did everything for everyone.
"She was always laughing and she always made everyone laugh. She was an amazing mum, she just always put everyone first.
"They started the chemotherapy and she was doing amazing. She was always positive."
On February 1, Danielle said she received a message from Sarah's partner, Joel, who told her to call him right away.
Devastatingly the mum had suffered a stroke and sadly died that evening, just days into her treatment.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells that build up in the bone marrow and blood and interfere with normal blood cells.
Symptoms may include feeling tired, shortness of breath, easy bruising and bleeding, and increased risk of infection.
Occasionally, spread may occur to the brain, skin, or gums.
As an acute leukemia, AML progresses rapidly and is typically fatal within weeks or months if left untreated
A GoFundMe page was launched to raise money for Sarah's funeral, her baby girl and loving boyfriend Joel.
- Visit the GoFundMe page to donate
