I'm 20 years old and had just finished my Chefs apprenticeship in Australia. I got a job in Niseko Japan and was snowboarding and working at a high class restaurant in the little snow village in Northern Japan when I started to feel tired and not have much energy. I then developed an abscess under my arm. Within days my abscess had been drained but the doctor thought I looked pale and ordered blood tests. I had acute anemia and was rushed to Sapporo hospital where I was diagnosed with Leukemia. I was alone, and using google translate to communicate with the medical team, who informed me I needed to start treatment immediately.

I phoned home and my mum got on the next flight from Australia to come and get me. I got many transfusions over the next couple of days to make me well enough to fly home and I went straight to the hospital in Australia where I am currently undergoing treatment while we look for a donor for my bone marrow transplant.