Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2018 i Pick Me Up! Special

Hope is such a powerful emotion. It can give us strength even in the darkest of times. When Beth (pg36) was told that the future was uncertain, she refused to give up hope, and that powers her through every battle she’s had to face – along with her humour! Krystina (pg26) had already beaten the odds to bring her twins home, so when her daughter fell ill again, she had to believe it wasn’t the end. And little Ava would amaze them all. When you lose a loved one, it can be hard to see any positive light. Patty (pg38) spent almost three decades trying to find her son Jacob, 11. Tragically, his fate had been sealed the moment he was snatched on a dark road. But Jacob’s legacy changed…

I pretend to be a child to catch them out As another message pinged up in my inbox, I hastily opened it. I really want to kiss you, the message read. My heart raced as I typed back. I’d like to kiss you, too, I wrote. I’d been messaging Alecsandru, 19, on an online chatroom. He’d flooded me with compliments over the past few days and told me how pretty I was. Now he was keen to meet up, and I couldn’t wait. But not because I fancied Alecsandru or wanted a relationship with him. In fact, he sickened me. And I couldn’t wait to report him to the police. You see, Alecsandru thought I was a 14-year-old girl. He’d started messaging a friend’s teenage daughter in March 2017, after…

‘We thought we would win cash’ Popping in to see my daughter Naomi, 24, at the café where she worked, she offered to make me a drink. ‘Oh, go on then, I’ll have a latté please,’ I said. Her manager caught sight of me. ‘It’s quiet,’ she said, to Naomi with a wink. ‘You can shoot off early if you like and sit with your mum.’ ‘Thank you!’ she said, making us both a hot coffee and settling down in the chair beside me. Once we’d had a catch up and finished our drinks, we wondered into Barnstaple town centre to have a nose around the shops. ‘I just need to pop into Poundworld quickly,’ Naomi said. Her friend had asked her to pick up some party straws with flamingos…

I was so frightened as my stomach continued to grow The waistband of my jeans was digging painfully into my tummy. Not a feeling I was particularly used to. Weighing 8st 7lb and wearing a size-10, I’d always been slim. Until lately. It was April 2016, and while I can’t say I’d got fat, exactly, I’d definitely piled on the weight. A good stone at least. And the weird thing was, most of it seemed to have gone onto my tummy. ‘It’s huge!’ I complained to my sister Lucy. She just rolled her eyes. ‘As if!’ she said. ‘There’s nothing to you.’ ‘Look!’ I said, lifting up my top. My pale tummy bulged over the top of my jeans. ‘Oh!’ Lucy said, surprised. ‘Well, I guess you do look a…

‘We had a leopard living in our bathroom’ Never work with animals or children, they say. And I happen to have my hands full with both! By day, I’m a curator for the Cotswold Wildlife Park. I feed and care for the big cats, zebras, and giraffes. Back home, I have two little monkeys of my own– son and daughter, Jai and Niemi! They’re animal mad, and love hearing about my job. So, after an eventful day one July, I couldn’t wait to tell them my big news. ‘We’re going to have a leopard cub living with us,’ I told them. I told them I’d been in the leopard enclosure and heard whimpering. I’d moved a bush and found two cubs shivering. Their mum, Moro, had sadly rejected her babies.…

‘The pain was spreading through me fast’ ‘The tumour grew back twice the size’ Jumping as my morning alarm woke me from my deep sleep, I hit the off switch and swung myself out of bed. No sooner had I stood up that I came crashing back down again. My legs turned to jelly as I collapsed and smacked my back against my chest of drawers on the way down. ‘Ouch!’ I shrieked. Only the week before I’d had a small owl tattooed on my lower back. Now the freshly-inked area was more tender than ever. A few weeks later, the pain got so bad that I had to call in sick from my uni lectures and spent the entire day in bed. As I lay under the duvet feeling…

Spot check Q My teenage son has acne. My doctor says there's nothing we can do. Can that really be true? Emily, Hull A Although avoidance of acne can be tricky, as often acne is down to genetics or hormones, please be reassured that acne can be very easily treated by a dermatologist. The most important thing is to treat swiftly to prevent the risk of permanent scars. Acne can be cured completely with the right treatment. Antibiotics can supress the condition, however if your son’s acne is severe or long-standing, he may require a stronger treatment in the form of isotretinoin. This drug offers a good chance of a cure, but there are side effects to consider. Don't ignore Q How do I know when to worry about a…

Skin cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, with more people dying from it in Britain than in Australia. Dr Shilesh Iyer of the New York Dermatology Group explains that ultraviolet rays are always present. ‘They are independent of cold or hot weather and are not blocked by clouds,' he says. And according to the Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity (skcin.org), over 80% of skin cancers are caused by over-exposure to UV radiation. But despite these facts, the British public seem to be more at risk than ever, with more sufferers here than in countries with more sun. So, while you may not think of using sun cream on a cloudy British day, think again. We should all be applying sun cream as part of a daily…

The alarm clock blared loudly in the morning. Time to get up! ‘Come on, Ange,’ I whispered to my girlfriend. ‘It’s time to get going now.’ I could see in her eyes that she was tired after a long week at work, and would probably have preferred to stay in bed. But I was counting on surfing the Severn Bore with her that day. It would probably be our last chance to surf there before winter, and I had a big surprise for her up my sleeve! We got together on those very waters three years before. I’d spotted the fit girl I had fancied at university and had to make a move. We’d met for the first time at Swansea University 10 years before, but it wasn’t until I…

There’s a little blue lion sitting on my living room shelf, and it’s wearing my stepdad Allan’s check shirt. It watches over me. I snuggle it when I’m sad. I made it after Allan, 83, passed away in June 2014. I was only 13 when my mum Esther, now 74, first introduced me to Allan. I hated him at first, this strange new man in our lives. But he never gave up on me, and was always kind and loving. ‘Come see your Daddy Allan!’ he’d say when I was upset, and he’d give me a big hug. He won me round, and all my worries disappeared with him around. We went on to form a bond that lasted long after my childhood had ended. I visited him nearly every…

When my sister Kelly asked me to be her bridesmaid, I knew that it was time for me to do something about my weight. At 14st and a size 20, I'd always been the biggest of my friends. But as a mum of two, it was hard to find time to exercise. Now, picturing myself squeezing into a bridesmaid dress, I knew I'd have to try. ‘It's time to step up my game,' I said to my hubby Stephen, 40. Signing up for CrossFit classes, I took part in circuits made up of different workouts, but the one I excelled in was weight training. After three months, I was lifting heavier weights than the other men and women in the class. A year later, I'd lost 3st, and was able…

Over the years he had three pacemakers fitted My husband Kevin, 38, was born with severe heart problems: congenitally corrected transposition of the greater arteries (CCTGA) with pulmonary stenosis and ventricular septal defect (VSD). Aged eight, he’d had heart surgery to insert valves to keep his blood pumping. So poorly at one point, he was given the last rites. Miraculously, Kev had survived. He’d got used to being in and out of hospital, prone to infections. Unable to exercise as a child, he had to sit and watch his classmates during PE lessons. But he didn’t let his condition hold him back. He went on to start his own commercial interiors business at age 28. And...he found me! We met at a mutual friend’s barbeque in July 1998, while I…

This month... PREPARING FOR A JOB INTERVIEW 1 Be prepared Practise makes perfect. Take time to look up typical interview questions and prepare your answers for them. 2 Know the facts Study up beforehand. Learn about the company and the job you're applying for. The more informed you are, the easier it will be to handle interview questions. 3 Get connected It's who you know. If you know someone at the company you are interviewing with, your connections can provide inside information and tell you what to expect. 4 Dress for success First impressions go a long way, so make sure you dress appropriately. Pick an outfit suitable for the job. 5 Be on time On time means ten minutes early. Drive to the interview location ahead of time so…

‘I told Luke how sorry I was’ ‘I knew something was very wrong’ When my husband Luke, 33, and I found out that we were expecting a baby, we were simply over the moon. We’d been married in a fairy-tale ceremony just months before and calculated that we must have conceived very early on in our two-week Cancun honeymoon. Working at a maternity unit, I knew how hard it was for some women to fall pregnant. ‘We’re so lucky,’ I said, gratefully. Luke and I couldn’t wait to start our little family together. At just six weeks pregnant, I’d just finished a shift and I was on my way home when I started to bleed. Turning straight around, I went straight back to the hospital for an emergency scan. Thankfully,…

‘Finally I was ready for a wedding’ ‘Guests didn't recognise me’ Sat propped up in the hospital bed, I groaned in agony. It was December 2014 and I’d been admitted after suffering from kidney stones. ‘I’ve just got a few routine questions,’ the nurse said, as she pulled the curtain around me. ‘What do you weigh?’ I hesitated. I hadn’t weighed myself in years. ‘I guess I’m around 19st.’ Days later, I climbed on the scales for an accurate reading. ‘OK, so you’re actually 23st 2lbs,’ the nurse told me. Mortified, my cheeks flushed. I’d always been on the larger side, but after being caught up in a serious car accident and losing my dad, Leslie, 59, to heart failure, I sought comfort in food. Unable to exercise for two…

‘Jacob had begged to go home’ Three young boys rode their bikes down a remote country road in rural Minnesota on their way back from a video store. It was October 1989 and the road was dark as 11-year old Jacob Wetterling, his younger brother Trevor and best friend Aaron Larson used flashlights to see their way. Out of the dark jumped a masked man with a gun. Trevor and Aaron escaped, but Jacob was taken. The impact of Jacob’s abduction was felt across America, bringing ‘stranger danger’ to every parent’s attention. Decades rolled by with no trace of Jacob, but his parents never gave up searching. Sandy-haired Jacob lived with his brother Trevor, 10, his two sisters, Carmen and Amy, and parents Patty and Jerry. Their home was in…

Happy birthday! A German tourist has set the record for the longest birthday ever. Sven Hagemeier spent his 26th birthday in style – all 46 hours of it! Sven managed to stretch his birthday to almost two days by flying from Auckland, New Zealand, to Brisbane, Australia, and on to Hawaii. The trip crossed the International Date Line, giving him a super long celebration. The downside? Eating airplane food the whole time! Hotel hacks If you’re flexible, opting for a weekend flight gives you a greater chance of being bumped up to business class on short-haul flights. This is according to travel experts at airFair, who also suggest booking a seat directly behind the business class section, as you’re more likely to be offered a seat in that area without…

‘Beth slapped me over and over’ It was a feast for the eyes and my niece, Beth, 15, and I had a prime spot to watch it all. Women in smart dresses, high heels and fancy hats all wandered past the window. ‘That’s one of our fascinators!’ I cried, pointing to a lady with one of my lime-green creations on her head. It was June 2016, and Ladies’ Day at the local racecourse. I ran my own shop, selling everything from flowers to bespoke fascinators and we loved to watch the parade of race goers walking by in my creations. ‘She nearly lost it then,’ Beth laughed, as the winds started to pick up. It was a typical Scottish summer’s day – raining and blustery. But we were in the…

Claudia Sharma, 35, Croydon, South London Clutching my toddler's hand in mine, we hurried to our local school. ‘Come on Luca,' I said. ‘Let's go pick up your brothers.' It was March 2017, and Luca, two, and I were looking forward to seeing my four-year-old twin boys, Samuel and Roman. And as they ran out of school, their faces lit up when they saw us. ‘Hey!' I beamed. ‘How was your day?' As they told me about their fun day, I started to feel weak and tired. My husband Aman, 35, wasn't due home from work for a few hours, so I knew that putting my feet up wasn't an option. At home, I got the boys a snack. I lay out some apples on the kitchen table then headed…

In the depths of my grief I was delivered a part of Dan back to me As I sat at a table, taking a break from my job as a barmaid at my local pub, I spotted a new face ordering a round of drinks. My sister, Danni, 25, had popped in to keep me company and caught me glancing at the handsome man. ‘I think he likes you,’ she teased. ‘What?’ I stuttered, embarrassed. ‘He keeps looking at you,’ she said. Danni encouraged me to talk to him. But when I plucked up the courage, all I could splutter was ‘You’re new’ before I scurried back to the kitchen to hide. A few minutes later, he appeared at the kitchen window. ‘I’m Dan,’ he smiled and we got chatting…

Staring at the positive pregnancy test, I felt a rush of emotions. In shock, I told my mum Corrina, 49, first. ‘Everything will be OK,’ she promised, hugging me. It was July 2015, and I was just 21 when I realised that I had missed my period. My boyfriend was shocked, too, but once the news sank in, I started to get excited – planning the future, picking names. ‘I like the name Ava, if it’s a girl,’ I told my family. I’d always loved that name. Only, a few weeks into my pregnancy, I noticed I was getting forgetful. I’d forget what I’d had for lunch, which way I drove home from work. ‘It’s baby brain,’ my sister Stacey, 25, teased. I had thought so, too. But I was…

Baked potatoes with corned beef ragu Serves 4 For the corned beef ragu 1. Wash the potatoes and prick them four or five times with a fork. 2. Pour a little oil into the centre of a square of foil, roll each potato in it, sprinkle on some salt then wrap the potato in the foil. 3. Place the potatoes in the slow cooker and cook for 4-5 hours on high, or 8-10 hours on low. 4. Pour the olive oil into a large frying pan, add the onion and garlic and fry until golden. Season with pepper and salt and fry until soft. 5. Add the canned tomatoes, the chilli and cook for about 5 minutes. 6. Once…

‘I knew it was dangerously early’ Lounging on a sunbed with a blossoming bump, I soaked up some rays. ‘The baby enjoys the sunshine,’ I smiled at my boyfriend, Luke, 20. It was last September, and I was 27 weeks pregnant with my first baby – a boy. Luke and I had joined my family for a holiday in Majorca. ‘It’ll be our babymoon,’ I joked. Our last chance to relax before sleepless nights. I’d suffered with hyperemesis gravidarum for the first six months – severe morning sickness. Thankfully, I’d just started feeling better when we jetted off for our two-week holiday. But the day before we were due to leave, I got backache. ‘I think the baby’s moved,’ I moaned to my mum, Annette, 47. Uncomfortable, I headed for…

‘The crew told me to stop singing’ As the cameras rolled, another mystery hunk appeared as TV show host, Paddy McGuiness, said: ‘Let the egg see the soldier!’ As the music sounded, the handsome fella emerged from the lift and strolled in front of me and the panel of ladies lined up in the hope of bagging a date. I’d applied to go on the dating show Take Me Out for a laugh. When I got a call to say I’d been chosen, I was so excited. But I wasn’t successful in bagging a date with any of the chaps I liked the look of and I ended up pressing my buzzer on most who tried to woo me. By the end of the series, I still hadn’t found romance.…

‘I desperately tried to scrub it off’ Prepping for the weekend, I had a fun Saturday night ahead of me. Me and my mates had organised a girlie night out in Manchester to celebrate a friend’s 21st birthday. The outfits had been bought and exciting plans made. All that was left to do was to make sure I was bronzed. Three days before our night out, I ran to the shops in search of my favourite fake bake. I always make sure I’m glowing, but I wanted a top-up before the weekend. Only, I found my favourite brand was out of stock! ‘I want to be nice and brown,’ I told the sales assistant. ‘Try this one instead. The colour comes out so well,’ she suggested, handing me a can…

Ayshea Ahern, 25, Canterbury I'd always fancied competing in a beauty pageant, and now I had my chance. ‘I'm entering Miss Kent 2016!' I announced to my mum Funda, 53, and nan Priscilla, 71. I was thrilled when I made it into the final five for the semifinals, but I had my work cut out. There was an ‘Eco-Wear' category where you had to make an entire outfit out of recycled materials. Nan had an idea. ‘I have some old curtains you could use,' she offered. I grimaced, imagining moth-eaten cloth, but to my surprise, they were lovely lace nets. The theme was ‘English fashion through the ages' and I took my inspiration from Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. I wrapped Nan's curtains around an old white dress and…