Telling my story on TV

Only just though; little did I suspect after filming finished in July that I'd be in hospital the very next day and remain there (nearly) until the show aired months later.

Sadly, as far as stem cells go, my timing turned out characteristically awful. I agreed to make the film shown last Monday night on BBC1's Inside Out programme, firstly to make the most of the Beeb's expert researchers.

Stem cells are a hot topic right now but despite that, not the easiest thing to find out about. For some, ethical issues are at stake, though I suspect objectors have the luxury of being healthy enough not to need it!

Secondly, I hoped that spooning a good old helping of me onto the nation's dinner plates might succeed in enticing a retired stem cell expert out of his slippers and back into action to fix me! Optimistic? Yes. Ambitious? Certainly. But you wouldn't get far in my shoes without generous helpings of both.

Unfortunately fate had other plans - little did I know while filming, but I already had the multiple joint infection that was to scupper my plans. The day after filming finished, I subsided, gently into a hospital bed. Shropshire Star readers were right alongside me as infected joints and other metalwork were removed.

It's not easy coping without a knee and one elbow, but the real tragedy as far as I'm concerned is that I can no longer be considered for a stem cell transplant.

I spoke to Professor Van Laars, one of the world's leading stem cell experts, and he gently explained stem cell therapy is no longer a viable option. The infection I was battling has ravaged my besieged immune system and he says I wouldn't survive the aggressive chemotherapy needed to prepare the body for transplant.

His voice went super soft, ­ always a worry when a doctor drops his voice into "bad news mode" - and he told me that there simply isn't enough of me left to save.

He's right­ I'm half the woman I was going into hospital -­ but the truth is, expected benefits have become completely overshadowed by towering risks.

Oh well . . . at least I tried. Because my third reason for exposing my imperfections on TV was simply to raise awareness of a misunderstood condition.

People I meet are usually shocked at what rheumatoid arthritis can do. Perhaps if more understood the true depths of RA, more money would go into research and treatment.

And if the reaction to Inside Out is anything to go by, I'm hopeful on that last one.

Many thanks to everyone who got in touch with me after the show to offer money, time or just a shoulder to cry on, I appreciate them all.

Meanwhile, onwards and upwards to the next adventure. If nothing else, another tale to tuck into my bulging memoirs — if and when I ever get round to writing them!