A Scots dad given six months to live after suffering cramps in his side has been left “terrified to die”.
Stewart Phimister started to notice several symptoms across the past year, including a pain in his side, a build-up of acid and cramps. Despite the Glasgow dad initially being told that it was due to a pulled muscle, he started to become more fatigued every day.
The 40-year-old finally called NHS 24 after undergoing blood tests and occupational therapy to get to the bottom of the problem and on January 15 the BAE Systems rigger received his diagnosis. Stewart was told he had terminal bile duct cancer which had spread to his lymph nodes, spine, ribs and stomach lining.
He told STV News: “Last year I said that I thought I had cancer but they had to go through different procedures before they could identify the issue. After going to work again, I felt really sore. Eventually, I phoned NHS 24 and asked to be seen.
“I underwent an ultrasound scan and was told I was getting kept in. The doctor said there were a few suspicious masses on my liver, but it wasn’t conclusive. I phoned Alannah and my mum and the doctor said it was really bad. They said they were unable to remove anything and it was terminal.
“A doctor told me that I had between three and six months to live. You always see situations like this on TV and you can’t imagine it happening to you. When she told me, I was shell-shocked. At that point, I was devastated, and I was terrified to die. Everything goes through your mind.”
A GoFundMe has since been set up to raise funds for Stewart to spend as much time as possible with his two-year-old girl, Darcie, and his partner Alannah.
He continued: “It’s the most important six months of my life. I still don’t want to die, I want to live life. I want to prolong this as much as possible.
“I will fight to the end. Making memories with my daughter and partner is all that matters right now. Every minute and second counts.”
The campaign has raised around £21,500 so far. Stewart spoke about how overwhelmed him and his family are with the support. He said: “In all honesty I cannot believe the love and support I’ve had from everyone. I am overwhelmed by the mere thought that people want to help my family make memories, and to raise as much as this in such a short space of time.
“Time with my family is priceless but the people that are helping to give me that opportunity are so much more. From the bottom of my heart we thank every last one of you for giving us the chance to fulfil a few dreams before the inevitable happens.
“We have already started making memories and will continue to do so to give Darcie and Alannah and my friends the ability to spend time together, and to go places we couldn’t have before. Thank you again from Alannah, Darcie, Pablo and I.”
Stewart told STV News that he hopes that his story will be a wake-up call for young and fit people who don’t go to the doctor when they feel something isn’t quite right. He finished: “Cancer has not got an age, anybody can get it.
“I’m proof of that. If you think something is wrong you need to push for answers. If I didn’t push, I’d be getting up every morning and going to work.”
To visit the GoFundMe click here.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond.Sign up to our daily newsletter.