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I’ll never be able to repay the unknown lung donor who saved my life

8:00am Wednesday 30th January 2013

EUNAN knew he was in trouble when just climbing the stairs had him puffing away like he was scaling Everest.

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After losing mum, I don’t want disease to be a death sentence for anyone else

11:00am Wednesday 23rd January 2013

Four per cent. That’s your chances of still being around five years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Out of all the cancers out there pancreatic cancer has one of the worst survival rates. It’s known as the “silent cancer” because there can often be no symptoms and when they do come it can be too late. Last month legendary Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, 65, made headlines when he announced he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. But there is hope, those who have been touched by the disease are fighting back and working to raise awareness

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One minute he had a headache, the next he was in hospital with no hope of life

12:00am Wednesday 16th January 2013

Meningitis is branded the “silent killer”. It strikes without warning and is capable of killing a perfectly healthy person within a few hours. Thanks to relentless research we now have vaccines for many strains of meningitis and it is hoped 2013 could be the year we see a jab become available for the most deadly – type B – which could save thousands of lives every year. Here families and friends of those who have been affected by meningitis share their stories

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It was like being tortured non-stop for nine months

12:00am Wednesday 12th December 2012

A week ago most people had never even heard of hyperemesis gravidarum. But that all changed after the Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to hospital with HG. EMMA PALMER meets a woman who almost died from this illness...

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Illness made us stronger

9:00am Wednesday 21st November 2012

They say if you want to forget your troubles then do something nice for someone else and many families in Essex are doing just that. Here EMMA PALMER meets families who have put their own painful experiences to one side and channelled their energy into helping others

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My lifelong struggle with the ‘comeback killer...’

10:00am Wednesday 7th November 2012

ROY has just had his leg amputated due to polio, more than half a century after he contracted the infectious disease.

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My journey from the brink of suicide to role on EastEnders

8:00am Wednesday 12th September 2012

JUST over two years ago Kevin Shepherd was standing on top of a car park, ready to end it all.

My nights for kids with learning disabilities

2:00pm Wednesday 15th August 2012

AS father to three children, all with learning disabilities, Tony Thorne knew all too well how much a music night aimed specially at those with disabilities would be valued.

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Hoarding disorder left Ian feeling totally isolated

7:00am Wednesday 15th August 2012

IT’S hard to imagine but, for compulsive hoarder Ian Sparks, the idea of throwing away newspapers caused him to feel an unbearable sense of loss.