Macclesfield mum-of-four Michelle Gidion faced the shock of her life when a doctor's urgent call stopped her from boarding a plane for a dream holiday. "I'd been walking up hills only days before and wasn't feeling unwell," Michele recounted.

"I didn't want to spoil things for my sons, but as it turned out it was the wrong call to make."

In February 2023, despite experiencing unusual bruising and fatigue, Michelle thought little of it until her friend Pamela insisted she see a GP.

After heeding Pamela's advice and getting a blood test, Michelle had no idea that this visit to the GP would dramatically alter her life, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.

"Pamela saved my life by making me go and get checked out. I put the bruising down to having a very active lifestyle, but now I realise it wasn't normal," Michelle said. "Running a home with four boys was always hectic so I didn't think being tired was unusual.", reports Cheshire Live.

Michelle and her husband Simon, who have enjoyed eight years of marriage, share a passion for cars and Formula One, even naming their sons after legendary drivers: 21 year old Ayrton, 20 year old Jenson, 18 year old Rubens, and 16 year old Mika.

It was supposed to be the Macclesfield family's dream escape to the French Alps that May, their first joint holiday in four years. However, while waiting for their flight at the airport, Michelle received a life-changing phone call—her recent GP visit's blood test results were in.

A haematologist delivered the grim diagnosis over the phone: leukaemia had been detected in Michelle's blood. The consultant urged her not to fly due to dangerously low platelet levels, which could result in fatal bleeding from even minor injuries.

Reeling from the shock and pressed for time, the family faced a tough decision. Keen not to dampen the spirits of their long-awaited holiday, they took the gamble and boarded the plane.

"I didn't know anyone who had had leukaemia and had no idea how dangerous it was to travel," admitted Michelle later. "I'd been walking up hills only days before and wasn't feeling unwell. I didn't want to spoil things for my sons, but as it turned out it was the wrong call to make."

The stress of the situation soon took its toll. Upon reaching France, Michelle fell sick immediately, which led to the family cutting their trip short by 24 hours.

Direct from the plane, she was whisked away to A&E and after a 48-hour stay, was transferred to The Christie cancer hospital.

Michelle, who was always the epitome of health, saw her world upended by an aggressive blood cancer diagnosis, AML (acute myeloid leukaemia), despite leading an active lifestyle in the scenic Pennines. After a successful initial response to chemotherapy that led to remission, the cancer cruelly re-emerged five months later.

To combat the relentless disease, Michelle underwent a stem cell transplant sourced from a perfect match on the international register. Despite facing severe complications during her post-transplant recovery at The Christie, including requiring corrective laser eye surgery, she remained hopeful due to an 80% success expectation affiliated with her youth and fitness.

Tragically, biopsies in May 2024 conveyed the harrowing news that the stem cell transplant had disappointingly failed to eradicate the illness.

Michelle lamented: "I've been super active all my life. I was a fitness freak in my 20s and I was regularly walking near our home in the foothills of the Pennines on the edge of the Peak District. We are just a very outdoorsy family, so this diagnosis really turned our lives upside down."

Michelle was weak, drained of energy and could barely walk. Her options were dwindling, but she refused to give up.

In July 2024, the mother-of-four was given the opportunity to participate in research at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at The Christie in Manchester.

Now 56 years old and two years post-diagnosis, Michelle is in complete remission with no trace of cancer, thanks to a groundbreaking new experimental drug. She enrolled in an international clinical trial named CAMELOT-1.

This early phase study focuses on a new type of targeted cancer drug called bleximenib, a menin inhibitor. Researchers have discovered that a protein known as menin plays a crucial role in aiding the survival and growth of leukaemia cells in certain types of the disease.

Menin inhibitors are drugs that block this protein, making it more difficult for the leukaemia cells to multiply. Without the support of menin, these cancerous cells weaken and eventually die, allowing the body to start producing healthy blood cells again.

Michelle began taking two tablets of the trial drug every morning and evening, and started visiting The Christie every four weeks for monitoring. In November of the previous year, and again in February of the current year, Michelle received a DLI (donor lymphocyte infusion) from the same stem cell donor to help strengthen her new immune system from the bone marrow transplant.

Last month, she received the incredible news that the experimental medication has put her into complete molecular remission, indicating her blood and bone marrow show no traces of cancer at this time.

Michelle shared her optimism: "The trial feels like there's light at the end of a very long dark tunnel. The drug, together with the DLIs, has got me to a place where I feel a lot better and gradually I'm getting my energy levels back. Research is so important. When offered the trial there was no way I wasn't going to say yes to it. I just want to be alive, so I grabbed it with both hands.

"It's the only thing that's given us hope in the last two years. My four sons have all signed up for the stem cell register now, so hopefully they can help someone in the future, and Jenson has recently raised money for blood cancer research. The whole experience has been life-changing for our family."

Dr Emma Searle, the trailblazing consultant haematologist leading the groundbreaking trial at The Christie, overseeing Michelle's treatment, stated: "With early phase trials where the drug has never been tested on patients before, we are looking at how well participants tolerate the treatment and what dose is safe.

"We are finding some side effects, which are usually manageable, but most importantly 41 per cent of patients have so far responded which is very promising. We are very pleased with Michelle's progress on the trial.

"She has tolerated the drug well with minimal side effects, feels well and can enjoy life. This could potentially be a new therapy for patients with AML who have specific gene mutations and have relapsed after initial treatment, or may in the future be added to standard treatment for newly diagnosed patients to improve outcomes."

The CAMELOT-1 study is currently accepting new participants, aiming to recruit 150 individuals globally. Patients interested in participating in clinical trials can discuss their suitability with their consultant.

Eligibility for a particular trial is not guaranteed, and while some patients may experience positive outcomes, results can vary on a case-by-case basis.