Mum preventing for all times after shock ‘travel bug’ ruined her vacation

A yr in the past, Michelle Flynn had the world at her ft. She was tremendous match, went to the fitness center 5 days per week and felt more healthy than she had in years.

The 47-year-old, from Melbourne, was about to embark on a dream 10-day vacation to Vietnam, a spot she had at all times longed to go to and now was lastly getting the prospect.

But sadly, it will be the beginning of a nightmare for the mother-of-two after her well being took a pointy dive throughout her journey.

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The often energetic girl abruptly felt like she couldn’t sustain together with her associates whereas out sightseeing, feeling exhausted and sluggish. She additionally felt nauseous and had unusual bowel habits, whereas being unable to complete her meals, regardless of feeling hungry.

Ms Flynn brushed it off as the easy hardships that some holiday-makers can face whereas travelling by means of South East Asia – the crippling warmth, the totally different meals, the chaotic roads and bustling crowds have been maybe making her really feel a bit of off.

But little did she know, it was an indication of one thing very ominous lurking in her physique.

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“Before all of this, my life was pretty normal, in the best kind of way,” she instructed information.com.au.

“I was healthy, active and busy. I went to the gym regularly and stayed on top of things.

“Looking back, there were probably small signs, but nothing that screamed ‘this is serious’.

“Just fatigue and feeling a bit off. I didn’t think much of it, as life is busy and you just have to keep going.

“Going to Vietnam on holiday was something I’d been really looking forward to. It was meant to be a reset. I was excited.

“But while I was there, I couldn’t keep up with the friends I was travelling with and just did not feel right.

“Deep down, I think I knew something was off, but it was easier to explain it all away on the heat or the food. Maybe even low iron, which I’d had before.

“I never imagined I could be dealing with a serious illness. That was not even on my radar.”

She stated the journey was meant to incorporate numerous sightseeing, however that fell aside.

“There was lots of walking, which usually I would be fine with, but I’d get tired so easily,” she defined.

“The friends I went with were all fit people and they were keen on walking around Ho Chi Minh, which is very busy.

“I kept losing everyone. It was supposed to be a really special break and before I got sick, I was really fit so it was weird that I just ran out of steam.

“I spent a lot of the time at the hotel and when we got to Hoi An I barely left my room.

“I couldn’t even eat the food or enjoy a glass of wine. I was so upset.

“Instead of enjoying my trip, I was just focused on getting through the day.”

Do you might have a journey story to share? Get in contact: jasmine.kazlauskas@information.com.au

In addition to the fatigue, she was additionally having abdomen points and located herself extraordinarily bloated and in numerous ache when she would eat.

‘I was not ready to die…’

After flying again residence to Australia, she assumed the weird “travel bug” and the signs she had skilled whereas on vacation would naturally resolve.

But they didn’t.

In truth, issues solely obtained worse. She felt much more exhausted and run down.

“My body just wasn’t behaving the way it normally did,” Ms Flynn defined.

“I went to the doctor thinking I’d get some blood tests and some kind of explanation.

“My blood tests were mostly normal, just low iron. I had an iron infusion, tried changing my diet and even thought it might be Crohn’s (a type of inflammatory bowel disease).

“But I kept losing weight because eating became harder. I’d get bloated and be in so much pain.

“Friends I hadn’t seen in a while were shocked at how thin I’d become. Looking back, I understand why.”

Undergoing extra exams over the following few months, Ms Flynn was given a colonoscopy which revealed a devastating prognosis in September 2025.

She had stage three bowel most cancers.

“There is just no way to prepare for that moment, for that kind of news,” she recalled.

“I woke up from the colonoscopy and the doctor told me straight away. Sitting there, I was trying to process what was said and my mind was racing.

“I thought about my kids, my future and whether I was going to be okay. It was shock, fear and disbelief all at once.

“I was not ready to die.”

Treatment plan

Ms Flynn had gone from feeling wholesome and match to only “trying to stay alive” in an unbelievably brief period of time.

Sadly, the most cancers had already unfold to her lymph nodes, and the remedy plan was quick and intense.

“Radiation and chemotherapy was first up to try to shrink the tumour before surgery,” she defined.

“Everything moved very quickly. The doctors were honest, but they try to keep you hopeful.

“The speed of it all after my diagnosis was terrifying. I knew it was serious.

“I’d hardly had time to process it and now my life had become about just staying alive

“I had to have a stoma inserted because I couldn’t start treatment until I’d gained weight, I was too weak.

“The oncologist told me I was ‘starving to death’. Hearing that, alongside a cancer diagnosis, is something I’ll never forget.”

After the surgical procedure, Ms Flynn stated she awoke with the stoma bag completely connected to her physique, one thing she stated she had no concept learn how to handle.

Although nurses had talked her by means of it, she stated it was nonetheless a large shock, with the mum needing to make use of Google to teach herself additional on it.

Life turned the other way up

“Since then, life has changed completely,” she revealed.

“Everything revolves around treatment, appointments, and managing side effects, while still trying to be a present, stable parent.

“That’s probably been the hardest part. Not just having cancer but doing it while trying to keep things normal for my kids.

“I don’t want them to be afraid. We all have to hold onto hope.”

Being unable to work, Ms Flynn stated it had been “really scary” attempting to navigate the monetary facet of going by means of most cancers.

Her sister Lisa secretly arrange a GoFundMe to assist the mum and her daughters with day-to-day bills.

“I rent, and I honestly didn’t know how I was going to survive,” she revealed.

“My sister started a GoFundMe for me without telling me at first. She knew I probably would’ve tried to stop her.

“But it’s been incredible. It’s allowed me to keep a roof over our heads, and take some of the pressure off at a time when everything already feels overwhelming.

“I work with people experiencing homelessness, and I’ve seen first-hand how quickly life can change.

“People often think it could never happen to them, but the truth is most of us are just one crisis away. Living this now has made that reality feel very real.”

Ms Flynn remains to be present process chemotherapy and is taking all of it “one step at a time”.

“Some days are okay, and others are really hard,” she stated.

“It is unpredictable and exhausting. But I’ve also had incredible support from the people in my life.

“What I hope for now is simple. To get through treatment, to have more time and to be there for my girls as they grow up.

“Everything else has fallen away. Your priorities become very clear, very quickly.

“This hasn’t just impacted me, it’s affected my whole family. My daughters are navigating something no child should have to.

“I’m waiting on new scans to see if the tumour is shrinking. The waiting is one of the hardest parts. It can feel lonely.

“I try not to let my mind go to the darker places.”

Ms Flynn urged everybody to concentrate to their our bodies and never dismiss actual signs as one thing so simple as a journey bug or jet lag.

“Listen to your body. Don’t brush things off and don’t assume it can’t happen to you,” she stated.

“Push for answers and trust your instincts.

“I’m just grateful I was diagnosed when I was. If it had gone on much longer, I might not be here.”

To donate to Michelle’s GoFundMe, please click here.

jasmine.kazlauskas@information.com.au