The bravest bride (From Worcester News)

The bravest bride

9:30am Monday 20th June 2011 in News Exclusive By James Connell

A YOUNG woman who fears she will die from a terminal bowel disease will marry days before she goes into hospital for the radical treatment that could save her life.

Beth Dobson, of Blenheim Road, St John’s, Worcester, will die from an aggressive form of Crohn’s disease unless she has the treatment – but even the treatment which could save her life may kill her.

The 20-year-old, who has been ill with the painful condition for most of her life, is set to marry her partner Ian Townsend at St Bartholomew’s Church in Redmarley d’Abitot, Gloucestershire, on Saturday, June 25.

Miss Dobson will have a heart line put in for chemotherapy just two days after the ceremony and she will undergo 11 days of chemo on Friday, July 1, less than a week after she ties the knot.

She has already had her long dark hair shaved off to raise money for the Crohn’s and Colitis UK charity because she knew she would lose her hair anyway once chemo started and wanted to help others like her.

She has had a wig fitted so she can look her best on her big day in a classical ivory wedding dress.

Romantic Miss Dobson proposed to her partner Mr Townsend on May 5 – the day of his 30th birthday – during a picnic at Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds. She gave him Converse trainers with the message “Will you marry me?” on the side and presented him with a ring.

She said: “I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy. We have always said we would like to go to the Maldives for our honeymoon, as soon as I’m better. But doctors aren’t as positive as they were and that’s had an impact on me.

“I’m scared and, I know it sounds bad, but I have accepted that I’m probably going to die.

“They say if I survive, it will be a miracle with everything I’m going to put my body through and, if it cures me, it will be a whole different level to a miracle.

"I’m in so much pain all the time. I’m always tired. It’s becoming a nightmare and watching Ian and my family go through it is horrible.”

Her Crohn’s has spread to her large and small intestines and her stomach.

The only place in her digestive tract it has not spread to is her throat.

Even when she has had her initial chemotherapy her battle is far from over and she finds out which of two different stem cell transplant trials she is on – one lasting 12 months, the other six weeks.

Miss Dobson suffers agonising pain caused by Crohn’s disease – a narrowing of the gut.

She expects to undergo the revolutionary procedure at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

The trial stem cell treatment involves harvesting her stem cells and shutting down her immune system through the use of chemotherapy.

Stem cells are then reintroduced to her body so the immune system can reboot.

A healthy immune system protects the body but with Crohn’s disease an overactive immune system causes the body to attack itself.

During her 11 days of chemotherapy she will also receive hormone injections which she said will make her bones feel like they are about to shatter.

She has also had IVF and she and her partner have five embryos which will be stored for them in the hope one day a surrogate mother can be found as she is unable to carry children herself.

Miss Dobson said: “I don’t see myself as brave because it’s just my life and people go through a lot worse. You just have to get on with it. I have been ill all my life.

“It’s getting boring – and annoying. This is my last roll of the dice.”

Tweet