A paramedic who was diagnosed with terminal cancer during lockdown is having to raise money for a pioneering drug which could save her life.
Mum-of-two Emma Rees said she noticed problems with her stomach after eating which she initially put down to a gluten intolerance.
However, the 39-year-old then began to experience rectal bleeding and became anaemic which prompted her to believe something more sinister was occurring.
After continuing to alter her diet and take iron tablets, she started suffering with more severe pain and went to see a doctor who immediately referred her to hospital.
"Before going into hospital, I went home to pick a few things up and collapsed at home - cue RRV (rapid response vehicle) and ambulance," recalled Emma, who also thought her recent ill-health may have had something to do with her hereditary condition familial adenomatous polyposis (colon polyps).
"At hospital I was admitted onto a ward and an ultrasound was done as well as a sigmoidoscopy (test that looks at the rectum and lower part of the large intestine) which found a lump that they took biopsies from."
A week later, Emma was told that she had cancer and would require further scans and an ileostomy (stoma).
She added: "My world crumbled. Following a CT and MRI they decided to do a PET scan - and everything changed after that. Without these scans they wouldn't have picked up on the spots on my lung, the one in my liver and ones in my lymph nodes.
"It's now a stage four prognosis but one that I'm doing everything in my power to overcome."
Emma, from Llandrindod Wells in south Powys, has now embarked on a gruelling five-week regime of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
But after doing her own research, she believes a drug called Avastin is the best option for reducing her chances of dying from the disease. She has now applied to Powys Teaching Health Board for the funding but may need to go private if her application is unsuccessful.
Emma's line manager at the Welsh Ambulance Service, Sallie Jones, set up a GoFundMe page earlier this month which raised more than £6,000 in one week. To donate please go here.
"Family, friends and work colleagues have been amazing so far, and it just goes to show how everyone rallies around - it's been mind-blowingly overwhelming and I'm honoured to have so many incredible people in my life making this battle that much easier," added Emma, who is married to husband Wayne.
