Woman who was often mistaken for being pregnant due to her growing stomach terrified to discover she had a 14lb ovarian cyst
Image by: Katie Holmes
A young woman who was plagued with questions about being pregnant because of her rapidly-growing stomach was horrified to find she had a 14lb ovarian cyst.
Katie Holmes, 22, was baffled when she started to experience countless pregnancy symptoms - her periods stopped and she was being sick in the mornings.
Her hair even started to fall out, she could barely eat, and her tummy grew into a big bump that was hard to touch.
Countless pregnancy tests and doctors visits confirmed that she wasn't pregnant - but Katie's round stomach left people offering her seats on public transport and asking about her due date.
Antibiotics prescribed by doctors for urine infections did nothing to help and Katie was shocked when her stomach suddenly 'dropped' one evening at home.
Doctors finally found Katie had a cancerous ovarian cyst weighing 14lb - the same weight as twins.
Terrified Katie, from Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, had it removed - along with one of her ovaries.
Amazingly, she went on to fall pregnant six months later and now has a baby girl, Ava.
Katie said: "For months, I had no idea what was wrong with me. It was so frustrating not having an answer and really quite scary.
"I was in lots of pain, I couldn't pee properly and my periods had stopped.
"I'd get full after eating half a meal and my stomach was growing in size even though I wasn't gaining weight anywhere else.
"It got to the point where people were asking me my due date and offering me seats on public transport - it was mortifying.
"Doctors didn't have a clue and I was just trying to get on with life until one day my stomach just 'dropped' suddenly.
"Googling lead me to a blog that a girl had written about having an ovarian cyst, and when I suggested that to the doctor, they finally scanned me and found I was right.
"The cyst was absolutely massive. It was this huge 14lb mass so it was like I'd been carrying around the weight of twins!"
Katie from Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire was just 19 years old when she started to feel unwell whilst working a night shift at a petrol station in September 2016.
She made it through her shift but started vomiting when she returned home and kept being sick for the next few days.
Her doctor thought she could have gastroenteritis and she was sent home with tablets but when they made no difference, she kept returning to the doctors every week for two months.
All the while her stomach started to grow.
Katie said: "I still felt awful and I couldn't understand what was wrong with me.
"I went to the doctor every week throughout September and October, and they just kept sending me away with different tablets, thinking it was a stomach bug or bladder infection.
"After about three weeks, the sickness stopped but then I was plagued with headaches.
"I could only eat half a meal and then I'd feel so bloated with this horrible pain in my side.
"I got in the shower one day and felt so faint that I had to get out and lay on my bed until my head stopped spinning."
Image by: Katie Holmes
Image by: Katie Holmes
Image by: Katie Holmes
Image by: Katie Holmes
Image by: Katie Holmes
Bizarrely, many of Katie's symptoms appeared to indicate she was pregnant, despite pregnancy tests saying she wasn't.
She was vomiting in the mornings, her periods stopped, she struggled to urinate normally, and her stomach was growing rounder and more solid.
Katie's growing stomach looked so much like a baby bump members of the public often mistook her for being pregnant, despite only being a size 12.
Katie said: "I'd catch people looking at my stomach and smiling at me before asking me when I was due, which was so embarrassing.
"I'd get on the train and people would immediately stand up to offer me their seat because they thought I was pregnant.
"I was in constant pain anyway so I often accepted their seat and saved myself the awkward job of explaining there was no baby in my stomach.
"It was really confusing.
"I was barely eating because I'd get full so quickly so I wasn't gaining weight anywhere else yet my stomach continued to grow."
Katie's stomach continued to grow throughout November 2016 and her hair started to fall out in clumps - but doctors had no answer for her pain.
She was at home in December 2016 when she suddenly felt an excruciating pain in her stomach as she laid in bed.
Katie managed to get out of the bed to look in the mirror and was horrified to see that her stomach had 'dropped'.
Katie said: "I remember this agonising pain ripping through my stomach. It was the worst pain I'd ever felt.
"I looked down at my stomach as I lay in bed and felt it looked different somehow, so I dragged myself out of bed and to the mirror.
"My stomach had been solid and round for months, but looking at it that night, it was like the whole bump had dropped to a resemble a soft fat tummy hanging down.
"It was really bizarre - I'd gone from looking pregnant to looking really overweight in an evening, and it was just so confusing."
Katie googled what had happened to her and found women talking about having her symptoms and it turning out to be caused by ovarian cysts.
She took her findings to her GP and was finally sent for an ultrasound which revealed Katie was carrying a massive 14lb ovarian cyst.
Katie said: "My cyst was so big that it was covering my ovaries on the ultrasound scan, which was really scary.
"They managed to scan me at the top of my stomach and saw that my cyst had actually pushed some of my vital organs up into my ribs.
"The nurse told me that the cyst weighed 14lbs, so it was like I'd been carrying around twins - no wonder I was in pain.
"It was a relief to finally have an answer for my pain but also terrifying because there was a chance that I could have cancer.
"The doctors warned me that if my ovaries were twisted from the cyst, then they'd have to remove them so I was facing the possibility of not being able to have children as well."
Katie was booked in for a laparotomy on January 17 2017 where doctors removed the 14lb ovarian cyst as well as one of her ovaries.
Tests revealed that the cyst contained cancerous tissue, but doctors successfully removed the entire mass before the cancer could spread, leaving Katie cancer free.
Katie's health returned to normal, her periods came back a month after surgery and her stomach became flat again.
Single Katie incredibly found out she was pregnant in July 2017, and gave birth to baby Ava in April 2018.
Katie said: "The day after my surgery I was devastated to hear that they'd had to remove an ovary - I thought I might never have children.
"I hadn't been convinced I'd ever want kids before I went through all this, but there was something horrible about having that choice removed from me.
"I was focusing on getting my life back on track afterwards when I actually found out I was pregnant just six months after the surgery - for real this time!
"I was over the moon.
"I've never been happier, she's just amazing and I'm so glad my cancerous cyst didn't stop me from becoming a mum after all."
Watch moment sisters four years apart open each other’s iPhone using face recognition
Image by: Hanife Berisha
Two sisters with a four-year age gap can open each other’s iPhones using face recognition - despite looking very different.
Care workers Hanife Berisha and Eva Krasniqi might be sisters but are far from identical.
Yet despite clear differences in their appearance, 30-year-old Hanife and her younger sister Eva, 26, are able to unlock each other’s phones by just glancing at the screen.
The pair, from Orpington, London, have found a glitch in Apple’s usually water-tight Face ID technology that allows users to open their iPhone just by looking at it.
Hanife said: “We both got our phones last year but only realised recently.
"Eva held me phone and it opened out of nowhere. We tried it again and it keeps on working.
"We even tried to reset the phones but it keeps happening.
"It's really shocking that someone else can open up my phone. It means she can access bank accounts and everything.
"I think it is a security risk. The face recognition is one of the main reasons I got my phone.
"We are both quite annoyed about it. The technology is supposed to be so advanced and is not supposed to let this sort of thing happen."
Image by: Hanife Berisha
Image by: Hanife Berisha
Hanife, who was born in Kosovo and then moved to England with her family, owns an iPhone 11 while Eva has an iPhone Xs Max.
Between them they pay around £160 a month on phone contracts and purchased such advanced models for mod-cons like face recognition technology.
After the pair realised Eva could open Hanife's phone, Hanife tried the same trick with Eva's phone.
And to their surprise - it worked again.
Hanife said: "We have tried to reset the phones but it still works anyway.
"I hoped it might just be a one off but it's not, it keeps on happening whenever we try it."
Hanife is now concerned that other people could access her phone if they got their hands on it.
She said: "At first we found it a bit funny but it is quite shocking.
"I wonder if someone who has black hair and brown eyes could open my phone too. We do not look alike at all."
Video by: Hanife Berisha
Young photographer takes stunning macro photos showing the intricate world of insects- using only his phone
Image by: Sasi Kumar
These stunning close up images of insects showing the most intricate details were taken by a budding wildlife photographer - using just his phone.
Sasi Kumar hoped the stunning images would give people a glimpse into the usually hidden world of creepy crawlies around fields in Vellore, India.
One striking image appears to show a soldier ant sucking from a tiny water droplet which is clinging to a plant.
Another shows an ant dwarfed by the body of a dead spider which it is incredibly holding up above its tiny frame.
The 20-year-old university student and amateur photographer managed to take the pictures by using only his OnePlus 6t and Redmi Note 3 mobile phones.
Sasi uses macro photography- a technique which allows a photographer to take extremely close-up photographs of their subjects.
Image by: Sasi Kumar
Image by: Sasi Kumar
Image by: Sasi Kumar
Image by: Sasi Kumar
Image by: Sasi Kumar
Image by: Sasi Kumar
Image by: Sasi Kumar
Image by: Sasi Kumar
Image by: Sasi Kumar
He explained: "I use various types of lenses to capture tiny insects which provide me with a much closer magnification. All the photos are captured through my mobile phone.
"When I find an interesting subject , I clip my lens to my phone then I pan my camera slowly towards them.
"If I hurry towards them they will take off so patience is key in macro photography.
"I'm really interested in taking photographs of tiny insects and flowers, so I mostly chose to photograph ants, butterflies and horse flies."
But getting the best shot is not always a simple job in macro photography.
Sasi from India explained: "Insects aren't like humans- they won't rest in a place for more time. I have missed many beautiful shots because of heavy wind, noise and lack of stability too.
"Macro photography is unique and I want to show people these tiny undiscovered creatures.
"It also helps me to recognise small things in my real life as well. I always strive for perfection.
"I get some immense pleasure when I'm taking photographs."
He added: "I'm an amateur photographer but I have been doing photography as a passion for the past three years. I mostly enjoy doing macro photography."
Police release recording of 999 call where a woman complains about her hairdresser dying her hair orange
Image by: Ellis Wylam
Police have released a recording of a ridiculous 999 call where a woman rang to complain about her hairdresser - dying her hair ORANGE.
The woman complained how the stylist was supposed to dye her hair yellow - so she'd left without paying.
The recording was released by Devon and Cornwall Police as part of their ClickB4Ucall campaign.
They are trying to educate people on what they should be calling 999 about - and want to highlight that hairdresser disputes are not life-threatening emergencies.
In the audio, the woman can be heard telling the call handler that she is in a hairdressers and had asked for blonde highlights.
She goes on to say: "She put orange in my hair. I'm leaving her hairdresser but I'm not paying her any money because my hair is orange."
However, she is bluntly reminded of what the emergency number is for.
The call handler says: "You do not call 999 to report things like having mistakes done with your hair.
"It's obviously a civil dispute. It's not a police matter, it's a dispute between you and your hairdresser.
"You need to sort it out. I'm not listening to this call on 999 I'm afraid."
It's part of a campaign from Devon and Cornwall Police to prevent the valuable time of emergency call takers being wasted.
Video by: Ellis Wylam
Adorable pictures show a cat dubbed “catopotamus” after a shave left her resembling a hippo
Image by: Simon Galloway
A stray cat which was dubbed “catopotamus” by the RSPCA after a close shave left her resembling a HIPPO is looking for a new home.
Animal charity staff had to shave off Holly's fur due to painful knots which developed after she lived on the streets without an owner.
Comical photos show the startled puss with most of her body shaved down to the skin leaving her "looking like a hippopotamus".
Staff at RSPCA East Norfolk are now trying to find her a home and describe her as a gentle-natured, friendly cat who would be happiest in a quiet environment.
Image by: Simon Galloway
Her coat, once fully grown back, will need to be brushed each week to prevent it getting matted again.
She has undergone a dental and a spay check she is now ready to find a home - after spending over a month recovering at the charity's Great Yarmouth branch.
Anyone who thinks they could provide a loving home for Holly is asked to call the RSPCA's rehoming line on 07867 972870 or visit the branch.
All of the RSPCA's cats, dogs and rabbits are neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and on a flea and worm programme.
This hilarious video shows a dog pestering a giant STATUE to throw its ball - after mistaking the artwork for its owner
Image by: Lorraine Courty
This hilarious video shows a dog pestering a giant STATUE to throw its ball - after mistaking the artwork for its owner.
The cute clip shows rescue dog Ozzy wagging its tail and jumping around in anticipation of 'Big Fella' joining in with his game.
The six-year-old spaniel repeatedly barks at the 12-foot installation expecting a throw - but ends up disappointed.
The artwork is located in Silloth, Cumbria and was erected as request of a dying businessman who loved the scenic spot.
Ironically, it also depicts a pet dog - and a ball.
Owner Lorraine Courty, 60, said: "Ozzy always does that with benches. My sister taught him to do it.
"But he had never done it with the massive bench next to Big Fella before, and he hasn't done it since.
"The statue is enormous in real life. We were there a week after and he didn't even look at it. It was just one of those things.
"But that day I eventually took the ball away and he just took it back!
"Everyone has been going crazy about [the video]. Even the sculptor has seen it - he think it's fantastic."
Image by: Newsquest News and Star
Image by: Newsquest News and Star
The work of art was commissioned by businessman Peter Richardson and arranged to be positioned overlooking the sea close to where he lived in the event of his death.
Mr Richardson, who died in 2017 at the age 72, bequeathed the sculpture in his will as a gift to his hometown and the area where he would walk his own beloved dog.
Steel artist Ray Lonsdale took four months to assemble the sculpture, which was then unveiled on August 1, 2019.
The video was shot on December 22, 2019.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Meet the world's best-travelled BABY - after his mum and dad split their parental leave and used it to travel the globe
Image by: Samantha Farr
Meet the world's best-travelled BABY - after his mum and dad split their parental leave and used it to travel the globe.
Samantha Farr, 31, and husband Jonathan, 37, decided they were going to embark on their adventure when pregnant with George, now one.
The teachers started planning just two weeks after he arrived in January 2019 and saved up, before splitting Samantha's maternity leave.
Alongside older kids Archie, seven, and Teddy, three, they embarked on a three-month backpacking trip across eight countries and through twelve cities.
They walked parts of the Great Wall of China and paddled over the Great Barrier Reef, surfed the Gold Coast and roamed the deserts of Dubai.
They abandoned hopes of any sort of newborn routine, dealing with the sleepless nights in 19 different places, from hotels and tents to camper vans and hotels, rather than their home in Louth, Lincolnshire.
Now back in the UK, the adventurous family are already missing the freedom and would urge others to follow in their footsteps next year.
Samantha said: "It was the most amazing experience and the kids absolutely loved it, I don't regret it for one minute and we're already talking about planning another adventure.
"Even though the kids are so small, they honestly threw themselves into every adventure and loved every minute.
"They were climbing mountains, riding elephants, running around local markets, racing in tuk tuks - it was amazing and just the most rewarding experience.
"Our eldest son Archie started filming bits from our trips - he said he now wants to be like David Attenborough when he grows up.
"We did a lot of backpacking and stayed in all different kinds of accommodation, from a hotel one day, to a camper van the next and then sleeping in tents as well.
"We wanted to tick off a few bucket list places in our travels too, so we visited the Great Wall of China and showed the kids the Great Barrier Reef which was incredible."
Teachers Samantha and Jonathan have shared their passion for travel over the years and enjoyed many holidays before having children to Mexico, France and Majorca.
They married in 2009 before welcoming son Archie in October 2012, son Teddy in June 2016 and son George in January 2019.
After saving up money together, they split Samantha's maternity leave between them and embark on a three month adventure travelling the world with their children.
Mum Samantha said: "We'd been talking about travelling as a family for ages, and using our maternity leave to do so seemed the most logical decision.
"We saved up money to go travelling and actually thought about doing it with our second child Teddy but he was quite poorly when he was born so we decided not to.
"When I fell pregnant with George, we discussed it again and thought if we don't do it now, then we'll never do it!
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Image by: Samantha Farr
Despite their youngest only being five and a half months old when they departed from Stansted Airport in July 2019, the parents weren't worried.
The young family started their travels in Sri Lanka, then went on to Beijing, Tokyo, Bali, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and ending their three month holiday in Dubai.
Over their three month journey, the family travelled across eight different countries and snapped photographs at every opportunity.
From surfing in Australia to roaming the deserts of Dubai, Samantha and Jonathan's children have certainly experienced more than the average British child.
Returning to the UK in October 2019 with treasured memories and photographs to look back on, the family are already missing the freedom and itching to go travelling again.
The trip has made the family realise they are more suited to this way of living than the traditional life.
They are looking into how to incorporate their love for travelling into their daily lives more, and have just sold their home and are planning their next trip.
Samantha said: "It has been weird being back, I think we all miss travelling and we are thinking about giving up suburbia for life on the road permanently.
"We did make the decision for Archie to miss the first term of the school year to go travelling, which is controversial as we are teachers ourselves, but we did educate him as we travelled.
"We're looking at doing it for longer next time, possibly travelling around North and South America.
"Our boys absolutely loved it and Archie especially is totally up for more.
"We just wanted to show the kids that you don't have to follow the social norm of growing up, getting a job, moving into a house, settling down - there's so much more to do and see than that.
"We wanted our children to see that life is for the living and you can venture out of your comfort zone, and I think we've definitely done that."
Samantha shares her family's adventures on their Instagram account @wildandthreekids
Rock fan dad given surprise performance after unborn baby makes heavy metal sign during a baby scan
Image by: Tom Dowie
A rock fan dad was given a surprise performance after his unborn baby was seen making a heavy metal sign in the womb during a baby scan.
Tom Dowie, 29, and fiancée Caitlin Welsh, 28 were at their 19 week scan last month when their unborn baby gave them the 'sign of the horns'.
The cheeky baby appeared to be holding up its index and little finger while holding its other fingers - looking exactly like the heavy metal rock sign.
The couple said the sonographer allowed the couple to take a picture as she had not seen anything like it during her 20-year career.
The surprised pair from Glasgow, Scotland, are leaving the sex of their baby a surprise until the due date in March.
Self-employed businessman Tom, said: "The sonographer said she had been doing it for almost 20 years and had never seen anything like this.
"I'm an old school heavy metal fan so this really is quite something.
"I listen to old school bands like Slayer, Megadeth and Sylosis and Panthers.
"So I'm pretty chuffed he or she will take after their dad.
"At the last scan the baby was just flipping about.
"He or she was seemed very keen to just get out.
"We looked over at the screen and saw the hand.
"We were just really quite shocked."
Image by: Tom Dowie
Image by: Tom Dowie
The couple - who run beard grooming company Bedfordshire Beard Co together, had brought daughter Freya, 2, along with them at the scan on 2 November at private clinic Baby Stepps.
Caitlyn said: "Obviously when Tom blares out his heavy metal when we're working the baby seems to be enjoying it.
"We've shown Freya and she knows she's getting a little brother or sister.
"She doesn't really have much to say on the hand gesture but she knows we find it all rather funny.
"We were just so shocked when we saw it.
"We just had to get a photo as a keepsake.
"We're very excited to meet him or her."
Man in inflatable Zorb ball struggles to get to his feet for ten minutes after knockdown
Image by: Video Contributor
This is the hilarious moment a man was knocked to the floor and left unable to get up after he got trapped inside his inflatable zorb.
Onlookers captured the moment the man - said to be in his 20s - got stuck inside the blow-up ball, with his arms squished above his head.
He was barged to the floor and left unable to get up after he struggled to get to his feet, at Heatherton World of Activities, Pembrokeshire, in Wales.
Later the man can be seen re-positioning his legs in a bid to hoist himself back up.
A member of staff attempts to help the man by pulling up the Zorbing ball - but again fails miserably.
Moments later a member of the public races in to help tug on the inflatable ball and help the man up.
But as soon as he is helped back on his feet by the two men, he is barged into again and finds himself back on the floor.
An eyewitness said: "We were just in the queue and saw this guy who kept falling over.
"Because of his size he was unable to get his leg in the position to get himself back up.
"This happened for a good ten minutes.
"When he has his arms in the air he looked like a giraffe.
"It was just really funny."
Video by: Video Contributor 3982
Shocking pictures show 150-year-old church tower collapsed shortly before Sunday service
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
Shocking pictures show the scale of devastation after a 150-year-old church was reduced to rubble when it suddenly collapsed on Sunday morning (19/1).
Emergency services were called to St John the Baptist Church in High Toynton, Lincs.,
after a historic tower, built in 1872, came down without warning.
Sniffer dogs were brought in by the fire service to search the rubble for bodies - but fortunately nobody was reported injured.
The Grade II-listed church would usually have been packed with parishioners but there was not a service on Sunday.
The remains of the church have been cordoned off by police while an online fundraiser has been set up to help raise £100,000 towards the cost of the repairs.
A structural engineer was inspecting the site this morning (Mon) with the Reverend Charles Patrick.
He said: "It’s obviously a great shock to see the devastation and a great gaping hole.
"The fire service did a thorough job and brought in dogs just to ensure nobody was found."
Horncastle Police tweeted: “We have been supporting the community of High Toynton with Horncastle firefighters after the collapse of the church tower.
“No injuries to report thankfully and we will be supporting the community with regular 24 hours checks of the site.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire, Marc Jones, also tweeted: “What a terrible shock for the whole community.
“Glad that everyone is safe but what a sad sight to see.”
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
Image by: Tom Maddick SWNS
There has been a parish church at the site since the 13th century and the current building was constructed using mainly greenstone in 1872 by Ewan Christian.
The architect, who also restored Southwell Minster and Carlisle Cathedral, reused 12th-century fragments and Norman stone from the previous church erected in 1779.
High Toynton is known as a "doubly thankful" village - it is one of only 14 in the UK where all the men came back from both World Wars.
Included in the church is a bank of Living Memories, which includes a resident’s diary of 1939 to 1941.
Group administrator of Horncastle churches Debbie Knight said: “The Reverend is there this morning with the structural engineer.
“There was not a service yesterday and we believe the collapse happened in the morning.”
A JustGiving page has been set up by Robert Tomkinson, a villager who got married in the church, to raise money to rebuild the church tower.
Robert said: “On Sunday, January 19, the tower of St John the Baptist church in High Toynton collapsed, taking down almost 150 years of history.
"Thankfully no one was hurt.
“The rest of the building is still standing - but the challenge of rebuilding starts now and the village will need all the help it can get!
“We don’t know how much we will need at this stage but the final figure will no doubt be very high - all money raised here will go to the High Toynton Village Fund.
“The church is the heart of village life (and the only community building left after the bus stop!). It hosts church services and music nights throughout the year.
“If you have any connection to High Toynton - we need your help.
“There is so much history behind this wonderful building.
"There has been a church on this site since the 13th century and High Toynton is one of only 14 villages in the UK to be ‘doubly thankful’ - with everyone who fought in both World Wars returning home.
“This fundraising target will be updated once the full costs of rebuilding are known - but any money you can give will help.”
A Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "Crews from Horncastle, Spilsby and Woodhall Spa went out to St John the Baptist's church following a call to Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue at 12.42pm.
"They used thermal imaging cameras to search for possible trapped people.
"Our Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and search dog from Sleaford then attended and carried out a full search, and no people were found. Crews left about 3.30pm."
Video by: Ashley Moran
