Blackhall woman, 20, to graduate uni after cancer battle

Grace Fallow's "crazy" journey with cancer began with a chest infection she couldn't shake during her second year of university at the BIMM Music Institute in Manchester.

The music student and singer, from Blackhall Colliery, first went into the Manchester Royal Infirmary in December 2023 where she was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Grace Fallow receiving treatment in hospital. (Image: GRACE FALLOW) But nearly two years after her life was turned upside down, she's in remission and, after pushing through her degree, will graduate alongside her friends.

Looking back, the 20-year-old told The Northern Echo: "I just had a bit of a cold that wouldn't go away, so I went to A&E at around 1am and said that I had to wait for the doctor in the morning.

"Because it was the middle of the night I decided to leave but they had already taken bloods. Then, they ended up ringing me to come back immediately in the middle of the night.

Grace Fallow, 20. (Image: GRACE FALLOW) "I was really naive about it, I did a biopsy which was quite uncomfortable but I just thought they were testing to see what infection I had."

But, Grace, who was by this point joined by dad Glen, 66, soon realised something was wrong when she was approached by three doctors and staff wearing Macmillan lanyards.

She added: "The moment I found out is blacked out in my memory. I thought it was the end really, I didn't know anything about cancer or leukaemia.

Grace Fallow performing on stage. (Image: GRACE FALLOW) "I had never experienced it in my family and to me it felt like a bit of a death sentence."

What followed for Grace was a mixture of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle where she bravely kept going with her studies.

She added: "At first, my degree went to the back of my mind but after my first round of chemo I started doing it remotely.

"I was writing essays from my hospital bed and stressing about deadlines which is so silly to think about but it gave me purpose other than surviving."

Grace in the studio. (Image: GRACE FALLOW) But by her third round of treatment, the cancer simply "wasn't budging" so big sister Ella, 25, became her stem cell donor in July last year.

Two months later, she was given the all clear, rang the bell, and was able to continue her degree and sporadically travel back down to university in Manchester.

Grace said: "Getting that news was so good, I couldn't believe it. It didn't all end there really, as there is a lot to deal with after you get the all clear.

Grace during treatment. (Image: GRACE FALLOW) "But, it felt crazy, as I hadn't thought about the future for so long. I realised I did and do have a future and my whole hospital team were there when I rang the bell."

Grace, now in remission, with a friend. (Image: GRACE FALLOW) Now, in August, Grace will proudly walk across the stage at graduation and accept her first class degree.

As for what the future holds, she has aspirations to become a professional singer songwriter and is looking forward to taking to the stage once again.

She added: "It's going to be a really nice day, I never thought this day would happen or if I would live to see it.

"It will be really emotional."