Glasgow Mum who was told she might not have children will start Cancer Research UK Race For Life

In the run up to her wedding, the 31-year-old had been feeling exhausted and run down - but put it all down to the stress of planning her special day.

But when her condition worsened on honeymoon in Dubia, Sabah realised she had to see her doctor.

And the news was hard to hear.

Not only did she have Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells, but the chemotherapy needed could leave her infertile.

But today Sabah is a proud mum to son Eesa, five, and one-year-old daughter Amelia.

Sabah, who lives in Crookston with husband Zain, 33, said: “Eesa is our miracle child.

"I’ll never forget how it felt to have him in my arms for the first time.

"Eesa is so precious to us as in the dark days of cancer treatment we thought that dream of one day having our own family had been taken away from us.

"I remember so clearly the doctors telling me the cancer treatment would make my long hair fall out, give me a sore mouth and that the third side effect might be infertility.

"That was a lot to take in when I was only 23.

"I needed to start treatment straight away to save my life.

"There wasn’t even time to have fertility treatment and freeze my eggs first to give us the hope of a family in the future.

"I did lose my hair.

"I’m so fortunate though to have not one but two beautiful children who make me smile every single day.”

Sabah's world changed overnight after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on August 23, 2013.

As a bride-to-be she had experienced chest pains, a cough and was constantly exhausted but thought it was pre-wedding nerves.

A week of wedding celebrations including the wedding day on June 21, 2013, was everything Sabah had hoped for and the excitement helped push to the back of her mind health worries including the lump under arm which she had found.

But surrounded by luxury on her honeymoon in Dubai, symptoms including night sweats made Sabah realise she needed to get help.

Once home, Sabah booked an appointment with her GP, explaining she had also found lumps in her neck and collarbone.

When doctors revealed Sabah had cancer one of her first thoughts was of her dad, Abdul Ghani Khan, who was 69 when he died in December 2010 with a brain tumour.

Sabah said: “I remember a tear rolled down my cheek.

"My mum held my hand and my husband closed his eyes and shook his head.

"It was a scary time. I thought I was too young to have cancer.”

Sabah started on a six-month course of chemotherapy with a final session at the New Victoria Hospital on February 7, 2014.

She gets yearly check ups but is well.

And it was an unforgettable moment when - despite all the odds - Sabah discovered she was pregnant in 2015.

Sabah said: “It was just amazing.

“Love had helped me get through cancer and my husband Zain had been there for me every step of the way.

"But it was the best feeling to be able to tell him we were expecting. I remember Zain was shaking.

"Half way through the pregnancy we discovered we were having a boy, which was fantastic.”

Eesa was born at the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow weighing a healthy 8lb on November 8, 2015.

Then four years later on August 30, 2019, their family felt complete when Amelia was born.

Sabah said: “Eesa is so caring.

"He loves playing football with his dad. And my family tell me Amelia is like a mini me.

"She loves clothes, make up and although she’s not two yet already knows exactly what she wants.

"I love life as a mum. It’s hard work but I couldn’t be prouder of my family."

The family has been chosen to launch Cancer Research UK Race for Life - urging Scots to enter the events this autumn across the country to raise funds for research.

All 400 mass participation Race for Life events across the UK were cancelled last year to protect the country’s health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Events include Race for Life Stirling and Race for Life Fife on August 22, Race for Life Hopetoun House on September 26, Race for Life Irvine on October 17 and Race for Life Edinburgh at Holyrood Park on October 10.

Money raised will help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, saving lives as the charity fights back from the impact of the pandemic.

Anyone who enters between June 21 and July 4 can claim 30% off the entry fee by using the code RFLJUNE30.

In Scotland every year around 32,400 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland  and one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer in their lifetime. 

This year, participants will set off on the Race for Life course either alone or in small, socially distanced groups.

Hand sanitiser will also be provided with participants encouraged to use it before and after the event.

Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman for Scotland, said: "We know that 2020 was a year like no other and we had to overcome many challenges thrown our way during the global pandemic.

"But this past year proves, more than any other, the value of investing in science and medical research and what can be achieved by working together.

"Just like science is our route out of the pandemic, science is our route to beating cancer.

"So this year, more than ever, we need people to enter the Race for Life- for the people we love, for the people we’ve lost and for the one in two of us who will get cancer."

Enter now at raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.