Nail technician Ashlee, 28, went to hospital with a nasty bout of the flu… or so she thought. Just two months later her life was claimed by a far crueller disease

Australia
By William

By David Southwell for Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

A 28-year-old woman has died less than two months after being told she had blood cancer, which she initially wrote off as the flu.

Ashlee Colmer, from Nuriootpa, northwest of Adelaide, was diagnosed with T-cell leukemia on November 26 after being ill for six weeks with what she thought was a nasty flu.

Unable to shake the disease, Ms Colmer, a nail technician with her own business Barossa Lash and Nails Beauty Bar, went to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

β€œShe was never fired,” cousin Megan Atze told the newspaper Adelaide Advertiser.

“(She had) a lot of tests, blood transfusions, chemotherapy.”

Ashlee Colmer, 28-year-old nail technician from South Australia, lost her battle with blood cancer just two months after learning of her diagnosis

The devastated family, including husband Brayden, who she married on October 30, 2021, are still coming to terms with how quickly Mrs Colmer deteriorated.

β€œShe was so brave, she brought out optimism and hope and talked about remission and future plans,” Ms Atze said.

“I (saw) her a week earlier, (she was) still eating, drinking, talking, laughing, joking and most importantly still shopping online.”

Brayden was constantly by Mrs Colmer’s side in hospital, the family said.

Mrs. Atze organized one GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral and other expenses.

β€œMy beautiful niece Ashlee just passed away Wednesday night; She was recently diagnosed with leukemia,” the page reads.

‘She was only 28.

β€œShe leaves behind her husband Brayden and many devastated family and friends.

‘She was such a bright, cheerful and cheerful person, with a wonderful giggle.

The devastated family, including husband Brayden, who she married on October 30, 2021, are still coming to terms with how quickly Mrs Colmer deteriorated

The devastated family, including husband Brayden, who she married on October 30, 2021, are still coming to terms with how quickly Mrs Colmer deteriorated

“We are asking for some help with the funeral/memorial services, this was such an unexpected event that no one expected so suddenly.”

As of Thursday evening, the page had raised more than $4,000 of its $15,000 goal.

Ms Atze said she would remember her cousin as a keen baker, who made special cakes that she sometimes sold.

The grieving cousin also remembered Mrs Colemer as someone who loved to giggle, gossip and joke, and continued to do so even as she spent her final months in a hospital bed.

WHAT IS LEUKEMIA?

Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue, usually the bone marrow.

It leads to the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells, which fight infections.

But a higher number of white blood cells means there is ‘less room’ for other cells, including red blood cells – which carry oxygen around the body – and platelets – which help blood to clot when the skin is cut.

There are many different types of leukemia, which are defined based on the immune cells they affect and how the disease progresses.

For all types combined, 9,900 people in Great Britain were diagnosed with leukemia in 2015, according to statistics from Cancer Research UK.

And in the U.S., about 60,300 people were diagnosed with the disease last year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Most cases have no apparent cause and the cancer is not contagious or hereditary.

Leukemia generally becomes more common with age, with the exception of acute lymphocytic leukemia, which is most common in children.

Other risk factors include being male, exposure to certain chemicals or radiation, and certain bone marrow disorders.

The symptoms are generally vague and get worse over time.

These may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Frequent infections
  • Sweat
  • Bruising
  • Heavy periods, nosebleeds or bleeding gums
  • Palpitations
  • Shortness of breath

Acute leukemia – which progresses quickly and aggressively – can often be cured through chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a stem cell transplant.

Chronic forms of the disease – which typically progress slowly – are usually incurable, but these patients can often live with the disease.

Source: Leukemia care

You might also like More from author