A “fit and healthy” 22-year-old has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer just weeks after doctors first suspected he had Covid-19.
Alec Crawford, from Fraserburgh, had been ill for about five weeks and and medics initially suspected that he might have the virus.
However, last Friday he received the devastating diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – an aggressive form of cancer that affects white blood cells.
Girlfriend Tasha Noble said: “We had to go into self-isolation for two weeks but he just didn’t get any better.”
Mr Crawford’s symptoms started with abdominal pain, shortness of breath, a tight chest and loss of appetite.
However as he was a “fit and healthy 22-year-old”, he was told there “shouldn’t be anything wrong with him”.
After a number of visits to doctors in Fraserburgh, he was given antibiotics, inhalers and a nasal spray, with a sinus infection thought to be the problem.
Unconvinced, Mr Crawford’s mother Pamela Wright called the doctors with her concerns on the same day he was given an inhaler and he was called to Fraserburgh for a chest x-ray.
And Miss Noble revealed her boyfriend had told her he had a feeling he had cancer.
“Two weeks ago he told me he thought he had cancer,” the 19-year-old said.
“I said there is no way, but he just knew. He knew how he felt and he knew it wasn’t an ordinary illness.
“On Friday, Alec received a phone call from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary asking if there was anyway he could get through to them immediately.
“I drove him there but I couldn’t even go in with him. I dropped him at the doors.”
The diagnosis came as a “massive shock” to his friends and family although they are all trying to stay positive.
Mr Crawford and Miss Noble praised the team at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for the “amazing” care he has received so far.
The couple have been together for about four years but have known each other “all their lives” and Miss Noble describes him as “outgoing, funny and kind”.
It is not the first time the couple have experienced cancer, as Mr Crawford’s grandmother was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.
Miss Noble added: “We speak to each other on the phone a lot but it’s heartbreaking not being able to see to anyone.
“He was told it’d be six weeks in hospital with no visitors allowed and was told to take a bag of clothes with him when he was asked to travel to Aberdeen.”
Mr Crawford is currently going through an intense programme of chemotherapy and has already intervention to prevent a build-up of fluid from crushing his heart.
A fundraising page has been set up for him, and within a day it received more than £3,450.
The money will be used to purchase an iPad so Mr Crawford can make video calls to friends and family while in hospital, and allow them to be present for medical updates. It will also help cover his bills while he is unable to work.
Miss Noble added: “I just want to say thanks to everyone in Fraserburgh for all their support and for all their kind donations and messages.
“We’ve been really blown away by the support.”
Donations can be made online by searching for “Help Alec get through his cancer treatment” at www.gofundme.com