A man who discovered he had a rare and terminal cancer despite initially being diagnosed with hay fever has tragically died.
Aaron Winstanley, 30, visited the doctors after developing sinus and congestion problems in 2016.
The technician, from Barton in Lincolnshire, was convinced he had cancer but doctors thought he was just suffering from hay fever and gave him steroids, antibiotics and anthihistamines.
A few months later, Aaron became blind in one eye and it was only then that the cancer was detected.
By August 2016, he was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma after tests revealed the disease had spread from his left cheek throughout his body and he was told that it was terminal.
He immediately underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but his only real chance at long-term survival was a treatment called immunotherapy, which is not available on the NHS.
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The treatment costs £300,000 to source privately and is available at the Hallwang Clinic in Dornstetten, Germany.
Aaron and his childhood sweetheart Saraya, who he met at secondary school and went on to marry, began fundraising for the treatment through the Aarons Battle Campaign.
They quickly managed to raise more than £189,000, which meant he could start attending private treatment in Germany in August.
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However, Saraya took to Facebook yesterday to share the devastating news that Aaron had passed away on Friday morning.
She wrote: Its with a broken heart that I have to say that Aaron passed away in the early hours of Friday morning. He was at home where he wanted to be and drifted off peacefully in his sleep.
He had spoken about it and was ready to go, it seemed as though he chose the exact moment for himself.
Aaron was the most special man that any of us will ever have the pleasure of knowing.
His massive smile and energy have never failed to win peoples hearts and brighten their lives along with his kind, caring nature, and of course his wicked sense of humour.
Im sure you all know that its impossible to describe just how special he was.
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She said that her husband had left her strict instructions on creating a charity to help other people.
She wrote: Aaron gave me strict instructions on lots of things and one of those things was that he wants Aarons Battle to become a charity to help other people.
So if youd like to help us carry on pushing for that target and building Aarons legacy then Id be honoured.
Keep your banners up with pride and carry on with your fundraising events if you feel able to.
If youd like to donate, click here.
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