A north-east cancer survivor who was diagnosed during her pregnancy is to take to the catwalk in memory of her son who died just months after his birth.
Michelle Stephen was over the moon when she was told in 1996 that she was having a baby at the age of 26.
However, 30 weeks into her pregnancy she was given the devastating news that she had developed cervical cancer.
Mrs Stephen fought with medical staff to allow her go to 35 weeks before little Jamie was born.
The mum then had to undergo gruelling treatment to get her through the cancer, but she was looking forward to life as a family.
However in a devastating blow her baby boy was diagnosed with meningitis and died aged just five-months-old.
Now the 47-year-old will take to the stage during Courage on the Catwalk to raise awareness of cancer and said she believed her baby boy was sent to save her.
She said: “I had a bit of bleeding but it was my first pregnancy.
“The midwife was asking if I had someone there for me when I went for the shocker appointment.
“They wanted me in right away but I wanted to give my child the best start. We came to an agreement to wait until 35 weeks before delivering.”
Her first concern was her unborn baby and five weeks later she gave birth through a C-section before being whisked away for a hysterectomy straight after.
Her husband, Mike, 52, was also there for the birth of Jamie, but Michelle was still very ill after her operations.
“I had a bad reaction with my lungs filling up with fluid,” said Mrs Stephen, who lives in Aberdeen.
“I was in intensive care for a few days and my mum was called.
“I was ill a few months later and went for some scans because they thought it had returned in the ovaries. Six months later they took an ovary as they found cysts.”
Mrs Stephen had thought everything was normal with her first pregnancy and that the bleeding she experienced was normal.
She had “a neat little bump”, no sickness and was “blooming”.
“I looked really healthy,” she said.
Due to meningitis, the little boy she had fought so hard to save sadly passed away five months after he was born.
“He was sent to save me,” said his mother.
“We would not have caught the cancer without him.”
Twenty-one years later, the family is celebrating Jamie and Mrs Stephen is braving the heels to take part in the Friends of Anchor fundraising event Courage on the Catwalk, along with 23 other ladies who have also being diagnosed with cancer.
“It’s amazing,” said Mrs Stephen, who is also mother to Chloe, 14, and James 19.
“The models are all part of an exclusive club which no one actually wants to be part of, but we all have that in common.
“Rehearsals are such a hoot. I love getting glammed up. I can’t describe how it has made me feel.
“I was a bit nervous but I’m loving every minute. I have the most supportive family and work colleagues who are going the extra mile to help me to promote the event and asking how I am.
“I’m so lucky, and I have the best husband.”
Mrs Stephen, who works as a nursery manager, is looking forward to surprising her family and friends who will be supporting her at the fundraising event on May 6 and 7.
This is an important chapter for her and, after much soul searching, she will “end it on a high”.
