Fighting for SURVIVAL

When Danielle Camilleri collapsed at 40, the diagnosis was devastating

- CLARE SWATMAN, JANE COHEN

They say life begins at 40, and I certainly felt that way. I'd been through a lot, battling postnatal depression and a stressful work life, but as I entered my fourth decade in April 2023, I felt better than I had in years.

My partner, Brian, then 40, and I had two wonderful children, Charlie-Grace, 10, and Amias, seven, and after 17 years together we were looking forward to getting married and starting a new chapter. But just as everything was falling into place, my world came crashing down. Doctors diagnosed me with a rare incurable cancer. Now, I'm fighting each day for more time to spend with my family.

When Brian proposed, it was the pinnacle of a perfect birthday. I'd already celebrated with friends in Magaluf then, at a huge party at our local rugby club in Cardiff, Brian had got down on one knee in front of the crowded room and asked me to marry him. I accepted immediately and couldn't wait to start planning the wedding. We'd found a venue in Spain that we loved and I started looking at wedding dresses online.

My sister, Gabrielle, then 37, had agreed to be maid of honour and we'd spend hours deciding on colour schemes and flower arrangements.

In July 2023, I was cooking tea as Gabrielle and I discussed wedding plans over the phone, when I started to feel disorientated. I felt a sharp pain in the left corner of my mouth, then it was like an explosion went off in my face. My legs gave way and I caught a glimpse of the children looking terrified, before everything went black.

When I came round, I was in hospital with Brian by my side.

He told me he'd arrived home from work to find the children outside screaming for help. He'd found me on the kitchen floor, my face was blue and he'd had to prise open my mouth to resuscitate me. An ambulance rushed me to University Hospital Llandough, in Cardiff, where I was given a CT scan.