Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2018 i Pick Me Up! Special

We’re celebrating fighters this month! Baby Austin was a longed-for arrival for Helen (pg16) but his life was in danger before it had even started. Incredibly, though, his tough spirit and bubble wrap turned it all around. Kerry (pg39) knew that without a miracle she would lose boyfriend Jack. Turns out that odd-defying luck was on their side and that they really are made for each other – a doctor said so! There are times in life when you have to dig deep and step up. Nicola (pg36) didn’t hesitate when daughter Shannon and her baby needed her the most. Hayley (pg62) couldn’t have been more daunted when she came across neglected horses, Ken and Bruce. But she didn’t stop until they got the life they deserved. If you’re after…

Everyone has the right to decide how they live their life When Mum came in the next morning, I was nervous about what I had to say. ‘Mum, can I change my mind?’ I stuttered. ‘Change your mind about what?’ she asked. Taking a deep breath, I confessed that I wanted to have the heart transplant after all. ‘There is so much I could still do,’I said. ‘Go back to school, make friends and go to the prom.’ Smiling, Mum and Dad asked me if I was sure. ‘Yes,’I replied, confidently. Mum spoke to the hospital and I was put on a heart transplant waiting list as a high priority. When a donor match was found, I was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital and underwent a six-and-a-half-hour operation. I…

‘I shut myself away’ Dabbing on another layer of concealer, I winced. No matter how many layers I put on, the angry red spots on my chin showed through. ‘Come on, we’ll be late,’ shouted my sister, Rebecca, rapping on the bathroom door. It was Christmas morning 2012, and my family was heading out for our annual family get-together at my Auntie Deborah’s house. But, at 18, I was battling with terrible skin. In a futile gesture to cover up, I set the thick coating of concealer with some powder, and then headed off for the party. But, as the new year wore on, my outbreaks got worse. ‘What disease have you got?’ bullies at school sneered. I scrubbed my face with medicated cleansers and slathered on every spot cream…

Ken Hom's Stir-fried Pork with Black Bean Garlic Sauce Serves 4 • 450g lean pork • 3 tbsp Lee Kum Kee Black Bean Garlic Sauce • 2 tsp Lee Kum Kee Double Deluxe Soy Sauce • 1 tbsp Lee Kum Kee Pure Sesame Oil • 1 ½ tbsp groundnut or vegetable oil • 3 tbsp spring onions, finely chopped • 1 tbsp shallots, sliced • 1 tsp caster sugar • 1 tbsp chicken stock or water • For garnish - sliced spring onion For the marinade: • 1 tbsp Lee Kum Kee Double Deluxe Soy Sauce • 2 tsp Lee Kum Kee Pure Sesame Oil • 1 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry • 1 tsp cornflour 1. Cut the pork into thin slices, 5cm (2 inch) long. Put the slices into a small bowl and mix them well with the Shaoxing rice…

‘Time was running out for Jack’ When I got together with my partner Jack in March 2012, it was clear that we were a perfect match for each other. People said we were a good couple, as we were completely inseparable and never argued. Only, Jack, 26, was born with bilateral renal hypoplasia, meaning both his kidneys were extremely underdeveloped while he was in the womb. He’d had a transplant aged seven, but knew the donor kidney wouldn’t last forever. ‘I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,’ he’d smiled when he told me, early on. Bowled over by his positive attitude, I wasn’t worried, either. Jack led a normal life. I already had Kacie, now six, and Jack and I went on to have Jayden, four, and Bentley,…

‘I needed to know where he was going’ As I called my kittens in, one was nowhere to be found. ‘Parsley!’ I called. Nothing. It’s not like him , I worried. I’d got my kittens – Parsley, Purdie and Misha – within a month of each other, back in the autumn of 2014. Parsley, then eight months old, was a friendly, ginger Maine Coon who liked napping on my bed at night. I had a sleepless night, and Parsley still wasn’t home the next morning. Panicking now, I called the vet’s and reported him missing. An hour later, they called me back. ‘We’ve got him,’ the vet told me. But Parsley had been found 2.5 miles from home. A lady had spotted him looking lost and whipped him to the…

•THEY SAY: This herbal remedy consists of the highest quality Panaz Korean Ginseng Roots, regarded as the most potent ginseng in the world to give you an energy boost. •YOU SAY: 'Taking one of these every morning has boosted my memory and alertness, while also helping me to relax and fight depression.' Claire, Southampton •WE SAY: Power Ginseng not only makes you alert and ready for a busy day, but also helps reduce stress, fatigue and anxiety with its energy-boosting properties.…

‘I played while waiting for my hair colour to set’ Rubbing the hair dye in, I sat on the loo seat while it set. It was November 2015, and I was giving my dark locks a bit of a colour boost. My partner Julian, 45, was downstairs watching TV. So, while I was in the bathroom, I decided to enjoy a few games of bingo on my phone. I’d joined Pick Me Up! Bingo the year before, after my daughter, 29, recommended it. I bought a few tickets for Sapphire - my favourite game - and watched as the games played out. Then I realised I only needed one number to win the £1,000 jackpot. A few minutes passed. Then... ‘Bingo!’ I shouted out as my number was called and…

Nurses had to peel off his dead skin in the shower every day I’d just got out of the shower when I heard the panicked noise from downstairs. ‘Mandy, come here!’ my husband James, 50, called. ‘I’ve burned myself!’ What? How had he done that? We were going out, so I knew he wasn’t cooking. I rushed down to the living room and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. James’ jeans were in tatters around his thighs and the room smelt like acrid smoke. ‘What happened?’ I cried in a panic. But James was in too much pain to talk. I followed him into the kitchen, where he picked up the full washing up bowl and emptied the water over his legs. I still couldn’t figure out what was…

This month... PLAN THE PERFECT VALENTINE'S DATE 1 Re-enact your first date Make a reservation at the same restaurant, eat the same food and reminisce about how you felt about each other when you first met. 2 Get physical Do something exciting, like going to a theme park or going jet skiing. Get your endorphins flowing - it will leave you both in more romantic moods. 3 Get a massage Book a full-body couple's massage. It's the ultimate way to pamper yourselves and is just the thing to get you both in the mood for a romantic dinner. 4 Leave a trail of roses Before your partner gets home, leave a trail of rose petals leading to the kitchen table, where a bottle of wine and a delicious meal awaits.…

I GOT TO MARRY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE After two months in hospital, Lee and I got on with planning our wedding. It was such a happy time. Even when the leukaemia spread to his testicles, we got through the surgery and intense radiotherapy by focusing on our big day. On 3 March, I walked down the aisle of St Andrew’s Church in Plymouth and married the love of my life. Then we celebrated with 150 family and friends. After, we went on our honeymoon to London. I was incredibly happy to be married to Lee. But by May, he was back at the hospital, being offered a bone marrow transplant. ‘I’ll have it,’ Lee insisted. ‘I want to live.’ So, in June, he was admitted to Derriford Hospital.…

WHAT? A skin condition that leads to spots and tenderness. It’s caused when glands attached to hair follicles produce too much of a substance called sebum, which leads to infected spots being formed. Triggers include testosterone in puberty, periods and pregnancy, as well as certain medication and cosmetics. So far, there’s no proof that diet can affect acne, though some studies suggest a link to carbs and dairy products. SYMPTOMS Acne can come in different forms – blackheads, whiteheads, even pus-filled cysts. The face, chest and back are usually affected. TREATMENT Squeezing spots can cause scarring and spread infection. Acne can’t be cured, but effective lotions and creams are available. Severe acne is treated with antibiotics and hormonal therapies. For more info, go to nhs.uk/conditions/acne .…

Caught r ed handed In medieval times, if someone butchered an animal that didn't belong to him, he had to be caught with the animal's blood on his hands in order to be convicted. Show your tr ue colours Warships used to fly multiple flags in order to confuse their enemies. However, the rules of warfare stated that a ship had to show its true flag before firing, displaying its country's true colours. You’re pulling my leg This phrase, meaning to tell a lie, has a much more sinister origin. In the 18th century, street thieves in London would literally pull victims down by their leg in order to rob them more easily. Peeping Tom According to legend, Lady Godiva rode the streets of Coventry naked on a horse in…

‘There was a shadow on her brain’ ‘She proved all the doctors wrong’ It’s a scene we’ve all seen on telly and in films. The wannabe mum, taking the pregnancy test, seeing the blue line and then her thrilled expression! After four years of trying to fall pregnant, I thought I’d never have that moment. As my husband Adam, 32, and I started IVF, I knew not to get my hopes up. But, two weeks later, in September 2010, I saw that blue line at last! Although my pregnancy was a breeze, at 28 weeks, I started to bleed, and Adam phoned for an ambulance. Then Daisy was born so quickly, weighing just over 2lb. Not breathing, our baby was rushed to ICU. Two weeks on, she was still fighting……

Rebecca Oliver, 33, Morley, Leeds My son Alfie flung his arms around me excitedly. ‘I did it!’ he shouted. After three years of training, he’d officially got his black belt in Wado-ryu karate. And he was only seven! When I took him, aged four, to his first lesson at a local karate school in Morley, Alfie was a little nervous. But, after a few classes, he loved it. He spent most of his time practising, chopping and kicking his way around the house. \And he picked it up really quickly. But we never thought he would turn into such a genius at karate. ‘Don’t be too disappointed if you don’t make it,’ my husband Andrew, 40, said to him as he went for his first grading – but he passed…

SANTORINI Favoured by many as the crowning jewel of romance in Europe, Santorini offers a truly enjoyable experience for couples looking for a romantic getaway. Explore the charming Greek villages, and soak up some culture as you visit ancient ruins before enjoying a romantic dinner at one of the many tavernas. Kick it up a notch by heading out on a cruise, a hiking tour, a jet ski safari, and several wine tours. SET THE SCENE: Trace the steps of Meryl Streep as she found love and learnt important life lessons in the 2008 film Mamma Mia! www.santorini.net GETTING THERE: Fly from London Stansted to Santorini, via Athens, from £75 with Ryanair. AMSTERDAM No city in Europe quite compares to the romance exuding from the Dutch capital. For…

Heads Up My psoriasis has always been mild but lately it's flared up and is even on my scalp. How can I stop it getting worse? Deb, London Colder weather is a common trigger, but others include stress, medication and alcohol. Any flare ups can be treated by your GP with prescription creams, solutions, gels and shampoos containing steroids, Vitamin D, coal tar or salicylic acid to control the inflammation and scaling. In severe cases, a dermatologist can start UV treatment or phototherapy to calm symptoms. FallOut In the winter I seem to find so much hair in the plug after I shower. It makes me worry that I'm losing my hair! Marie, Derby Seasonal hair shedding is relatively normal and should settle naturally, however if you’re concerned, speak to…

Pickton bragged about killing women and feeding them to his pigs Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton preyed on the vulnerable. He’d lure women back to his farm, where he would slaughter them in the dead of night. After his arrest, he confessed to an undercover cop that he’d killed 49 women, before admitting to being one victim off his target of 50. Pickton scolded himself for being ‘sloppy’ and bragged about his status as a prolific serial killer. Sadly, he was right. His notoriety will go down in history and his method of disposing of the bodies would shock the public to the core. Robert Pickton and his brother, Dave, inherited a farm from their parents in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. It made them millionaires. The 14 acre farm was…

BACK TO BASICS 1. Air Brush Body Foundation, £3 each, Primark It can be daunting to get post-winter legs out, but with the help of some body foundation, you can airbrush away any imperfections. This budget Primark buy comes in various shades and smooths on like a dream. 2. Skin Republic Detox Charcoal Face Mask, £4.99, Lookfantastic.com Packed with 10 superfoods and infused with activated charcoal, this face mask packs a punch. The charcoal acts like a magnet, drawing dirt and oil from your pores while improving blood flow and cell renewal. 3. Super Hydrate Day Cream, £12, Marks and Spencer If your skin is in need of a boost, then try this light weight day cream with a protecting SPF 15. It smells great, sinks into your…

‘I was never going to be normal’ Hunched over my magazine in the hospital, I focused on this week’s celebrity fact-file – Zac Efron. ‘Any news?’I overheard my mum asking. I was sent home from school because I wasn’t feeling very well. My mum Kirsty, now 51, insisted on taking me for a check up. ‘We have detected some irregularities with Hannah’s heart,’ the doctor said. Unsure what that meant, I looked at Mum for some answers. ‘Due to your daughter’s past with leukaemia, her heart is now failing,’ the doctor continued. ‘We would like to keep an eye on her. She may need an operation.’ Falling silent, both Mum and I stayed still. ‘Everything will be alright,’she whispered eventually, pulling me in for a big hug. When my dad,…

‘It was a foul odour’ The little legs stomped as I towelled off sand. ‘Keep still!’ I cried to my little three-year-old son, Karson. We had been on holiday in Cornwall. But when we got home a few days later, I noticed my little boy’s breath smelt like rotting rubbish! Over the next few days, I could barely hug Karson as I couldn’t stop gagging when he spoke! I took him to the doctor, who couldn’t find anything wrong. But a week later, the smell was worse. Desperate, I googled little boy, bad breath. I read a parenting forum that suggested Karson could have stuck an object up his nose. Apparently, if someone inserts something up their nostrils, it can create a foul odour. ‘You need to tell me if…

We cried over our unborn miracle ‘I'd given up hope of becoming a mother’ Being a teenage girl is hard. Boobs, periods… For me, it was worse. At just 14, I had very heavy, painful bleeds. ‘Your ovaries are compacted with cysts,’ a nurse explained to me, after I’d had scans. I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). At 19, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Would I ever have babies? That year, I had part of my cervix removed and soon I got the all clear. But… ‘You’ll never have children,’ doctors revealed. I was broken, scared no man would want a relationship. Then, in September 2013, I met Rhys, 26. I worked with his mum as a healthcare assistant. One day, he came into work…

Walking in the park, my youngest stopped dead in his tracks. Spotting a little dog out for its walkies, Cody, eight, made a beeline for it. ‘It’s a pug!’ he beamed, hugging its squishy face and floppy ears. It was August last year, and seeing his favourite canine had made my lad’s day. Cody had been obsessed with pugs ever since he’d watched a YouTube video of them when he was just five. Diagnosed with autism around the same time, Cody disliked anyone touching him. He loved routine and found it difficult to cope with change. So much so, his condition had led to him being hospitalised with severe anxiety earlier in the year. His beloved pugs seemed to be the only thing that cheered him up. Now, his bedroom…

‘He didn't look like a newborn’ I pulled into the service station and took a deep breath. I was on the way home, but I had a question that needed answering, and it wouldn’t wait. I nipped into the service station loos, equipped with a little white stick in my hand. And, two minutes later, I had my answer. As soon as I got home, I announced to my husband Pablo: ‘We’re pregnant!’ We already had a son, George, five, but we hadn’t been trying for another. Instead, I was halfway through a midwifery degree. The midwives had been so lovely when I’d had George that I wanted to train to be one, too. Although we weren’t prepared, I sailed through the pregnancy and, at my 17-week scan, we discovered…

‘As I heard a cry, I saw all the blood’ My daughter Shannon, 24, was ready to pop. She was 38 weeks pregnant and had come to stay with me for a few days. A single mum, she already had a daughter, Amelia, two, and needed help looking after her. ‘I can’t wait to be a nanny again,’ I beamed, excited. That night, I drifted off at around 11.45pm, but minutes later, Shannon called me. ‘Mum! I think I’m having contractions!’ she screamed. Rushing to her, I grabbed the phone and called for a taxi to take us to the hospital. ‘It’s OK,’ I told Shannon. ‘We still have plenty of time.’ It had taken her two hours to deliver Amelia, so we weren’t really that worried. But seconds later,…

“We had a little genius” Rubbing my hand over my growing belly, I smiled at my husband. ‘Not long now,’ Ramesh, 33, said excitedly. It was our first baby, and we couldn’t wait for the new arrival. In February 2014, Rakshitha was born at Gunasekaran hospital in Chennai, India. She settled into the family well, and then, 10 months on, we got a shock… ‘It’s positive!’ I cried in disbelief. ‘We’re going to have our hands full with two babies,’ said Ramesh. As the second pregnancy progressed, my dad Balasubramanian, 63, offered to take care of Rakshitha so I could put my feet up. ‘She’s very advanced for her age,’ he said. ‘I’ve been singing songs to her and she’s repeated them straight back to me.’ That night, I noticed…

A bid to fly in style Air passengers can win upgrades to business and first class seats by entering a bidding war on their phones. Seatfrog, an app available in the App Store and Google Play, allows users to scope out upgrade possibilities on their flight and submit bids for an auction that starts six hours before departure. They will then find out if they’ve been successful at least 30 minutes before the flight. Visit seatfrog.com . Roses are red Romantics across the UK can rest assured that the country’s supply of roses will be well stocked for Valentine’s Day as Heathrow airport prepares for a spike in floral imports. About 7.7 million fresh cut roses – about 750 tonnes – are expected to be imported into…

‘He cries but doesn't know why he's so sad’ Living with bipolar disorder for years, I understand better than most what my son Chesney’s going through. And it truly breaks my heart. He’s only nine, but little Chesney’s already battling depression. It started in January last year. He’d always been a happy child. But, suddenly, he wasn’t eating his meals, and didn’t want to get up for school. In fact, he didn’t even want to leave his room. My husband David, 40, and I worried that it was our fault. ‘Maybe we’ve spoilt him,’ I said to David, concerned. His teachers at St Mary’s School were concerned about him, too. ‘Chesney won’t take part in anything,’ we were told. He was crying all the time, as well. ‘I don’t know…

Go Mushroom Mad Because they contain no fat, mushrooms actually help lower cholesterol levels. Even better, their high lean protein content helps to burn cholesterol when they are digested. Balancing cholesterol levels is essential for preventing cardiovascular diseases, strokes and heart attacks, so get your fill of this faithful fungi! Slim Down With Chillies While pizza is generally considered unhealthy, adding jalapenos can actually help you lose weight! They contain capsaicin, which give them their heat. This raises the body temperature, leading to an increased metabolic rate. While these metabolism-boosting effects are mild, the hot flavour of the peppers helps to suppress your appetite, meaning you will eat less anyway! Get Fruity You either love them or hate them on a pizza, but one of the most unique benefits of…

Richard stepped in to be my midwife ‘He stayed calm in our living room’ Waking up, I squinted at the clock – 3.30am. I was nine months pregnant and it was a very special day. Not only was it my due date, it was my partner Richard’s 47th birthday! I’d woken with some twinges. Braxton Hicks – practice contractions, I thought. As a mum to Isobel, 16, Josh, 14, and Lily-Rose, six, I knew what labour pains felt like and this was nowhere near agonising enough! I thought that stretching my legs and having some breakfast might help ease things. But, sitting in the kitchen, I felt a similar, sharp, shooting sensation… I was in labour! ‘We’ve got to get to the hospital right now!’ I called up the…

Now they show off! ‘They were both in a real mess’ Ken really perked up As my alarm blared loudly at 4am, I groaned. ‘Sorry,’ I whispered, as my boyfriend, Lewis, pulled the duvet over his head. But he understood – the super early starts were worth it. It was January last year, and I was off to work as yard manager at the Isleham Horse & Pony Rescue Centre, where we cared for 90 abandoned horses and 300 other animals, including geese, goats and rheas (a relation to the ostrich). It was more than a job. The rescue centre was my life. My mum, Wendy, 67, had opened it three decades ago, and I’d grown up riding my pony, Rosie, and helping muck out. Now, my 11-year-old…

‘They said I had two tumours in my brain’ IN THE END I DIDN'T NEED MY GASTRIC BAND Squinting hard at the blackboard from my desk, I sighed, frustrated. I could barely make out what the teacher had written on it. I’d struggled with my eyesight over the last few years, but this was getting ridiculous. ‘Everything is so blurred,’ I cried to my mum, Linda. I was 15 and, the previous year, I’d been diagnosed with diabetes insipidus. But it didn’t explain my other symptoms –headaches and my poor eyesight. So Mum took me to the doctor and I was referred to an ophthalmologist. I also had an MRI scan. ‘You have two brain tumours,’ the doctor explained to me after getting the result. ‘Am I going…