Monika Pollakova, 38, from Aintree, was given a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis just six weeks after giving birth to her daughter Polly Cooper by C-section in August.
In the weeks that followed, Monika developed excruciating abdominal pain and started vomiting. At times the pain was so bad she could barely stand. Monika and her partner Scott Cooper began to suspect something was seriously wrong, and she was also experiencing high blood pressure.
Hospital admission and initial diagnosis
Monika, who also has two teenage sons with Scott, was admitted to hospital. She says doctors believed the pain was because of trapped wind or an issue with her gallbladder stones and put her on painkillers.
After spending three days in hospital, Monika eventually had a CT scan and the results were devastating. The scan found a tumour was completely blocking her bowel, and surgeons had to remove around 75% of her large intestine in emergency surgery. She said further scans have revealed a suspicious area on her liver.
What is a blocked bowel?
According to Macmillan Cancer Support, cancer can narrow the bowel, which stops stools from passing through. This is called a blocked bowel or bowel obstruction.
Symptoms can include bloating, vomiting, abdominal pain and gurgling noises in your stomach. Monika and her family now face an anxious wait to discover how serious her prognosis is.
Family's emotional plea and fundraising
Fighting back tears, Monika said: ”It’s hard to even talk about. The hardest thing is waiting for the results to see how aggressive it is. I have this small child and I wanted to actually see her grow.”
A family friend set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page and this has already raised more than £11,000, with many complete strangers donating to the fundraiser.
