PA Real Life

Exclusive human interest tales from @PA. We write for national and international papers, websites, TV and magazines

[PA Real Life @PA_Real_Life]

A mother who had IBS for decades before receiving a terminal bowel cancer diagnosis has said she is determined to outlive her prognosis and is manifesting a “miracle” as she believes “cancer hates positivity”

✍️: @elfinwood44
https://t.co/juil953SLw

[Molly Powell 🍊 @mollyjourno]

A student whose "cool party tricks" of dislocating her joints, contortion and stretching her skin turned out to be a rare condition now cannot speak for more than a few minutes without her mouth bleeding and is banned from exercise

✍️ in @Independent

https://t.co/dw2Q4vcP8H

[Molly Powell 🍊 @mollyjourno]

A mother said her 14-year-old son was diagnosed with a rare progressive condition which means he could die before 35, years after missed genetic results, and now fears her other three children may face the same fate

✍️ for @PA_Real_Life

https://t.co/y8JAI9rHWj

[Eleanor Fleming @elfinwood44]

A widow whose husband died eight months after a terminal cancer diagnosis, despite not having “any signs”, has said navigating grief has helped her learn “life is for living”.

For @PA_Real_Life in @Independent
https://t.co/6d9NqlADKS

[Eleanor Fleming @elfinwood44]

A writer who experienced “a lifetime of injuries”, from bloody ankles at school from walking to gouging the flesh from her fingers with a lollipop stick, has said TikTok led to a rare diagnosis in her 40s.

For @PA_Real_Life in @DailyMirror
https://t.co/KDFCGGb8ge

[Molly Powell 🍊 @mollyjourno]

A knight enthusiast who suffered a near-fatal car crash that left him with brain and nerve damage and a loss of confidence, now wears full armour daily to rebuild his “strength and identity”, inspiring thousands on social media

✍️ for @PA_Real_Life

https://t.co/1D00NmwvGU

[Molly Powell 🍊 @mollyjourno]

A grandmother is “trapped” in her home after paying rogue builders more than £13,000 to remove spray foam insulation, leaving her with a leaking roof, a £20,000 repair bill, and no certification – meaning she is unable to sell

✍️ for @PA_Real_Life

https://t.co/dSe30pHlEr

[Eleanor Fleming @elfinwood44]

A woman who was "electrocuted" on live rail tracks when she was a teenager, suffering third-degree burns, has returned to the station for the first time in around a decade and now views her scars as her "art".

For @PA_Real_Life 👇

[Molly Powell 🍊 @mollyjourno]

A woman said she was left bedbound with “oozing”, elephant-like skin – so severe she was “unrecognisable” – after 28 years of using steroid creams for eczema, which she believes triggered topical steroid withdrawal

✍️ for @PA_Real_Life

https://t.co/ZBp6MHeeP7

[Molly Powell 🍊 @mollyjourno]

A laughter therapist who had not “properly” laughed for 20 years said the practice – involving giggling in the mirror and chortling at red traffic lights – transformed her mental health after coming out at 45

✍️ for @PA_Real_Life

https://t.co/8f1rBn7FPI

[Molly Powell 🍊 @mollyjourno]

A newlywed gay couple who fell in love with another man and started a three-person relationship are all now planning to adopt their first child together as they have “so much love to give”

✍️ for @PA_Real_Life

https://t.co/9gpXPhOykb

[Eleanor Fleming @elfinwood44]

A widow whose husband died eight months after a terminal cancer diagnosis, despite not having “any signs”, has said navigating grief has helped her learn “life is for living”.

For @PA_Real_Life in @Independent
https://t.co/6d9NqlADKS

[PA Real Life @PA_Real_Life]

A “beautiful” nurse who died just 13 days after doctors discovered a cancerous brain tumour told her eldest daughter on the day of her diagnosis: “I know you’re really going to miss me”

✍️: @elfinwood44

https://t.co/HtgA9AYtEV

[Eleanor Fleming @elfinwood44]

A content creator whose multiple sclerosis was masking the symptoms of incurable blood cancer has outlived her prognosis of three to seven years, reaching remission for the first time in nearly a decade.

For @PA_Real_Life in @BBCNews
https://t.co/mE9Dj35Lhf

[PA Real Life @PA_Real_Life]

A father who has turned £200 into a £1.5 million business selling Pokemon cards has said the growth has been “absolutely crazy”, with one card recently selling for £27,500

✍️: @elfinwood44

https://t.co/gjv3n23TpE

[PA Real Life @PA_Real_Life]

A family of six have saved thousands of pounds and increased their annual holidays from one to five by completing “magical” home-swaps across the world where they “don’t have to pay for the accommodation”

✍️: @elfinwood44
https://t.co/bN4qNwzfiO

[PA Real Life @PA_Real_Life]

A teacher who met her now-husband on a solo trip in China and moved more than 5,500 miles – 9,000 kilometres – across the world after only meeting him four times in person has said “you will find love when you least expect it”

✍️: @elfinwood44
https://t.co/EhZ0EniUcA

[Eleanor Fleming @elfinwood44]

A couple whose 17-month-old daughter died unexpectedly with no prior symptoms say they have been left without “answers” for her cause of death, describing the sudden loss as “surreal”.

For @PA_Real_Life in @DailyMirror
https://t.co/ILY1QtaeEZ

[PA Real Life @PA_Real_Life]

A lawyer whose husband died 10 months after an “out of the blue” brain cancer diagnosis has said “grief is the price we pay for love” as she credits counselling for helping her rebuild her life

✍️: @elfinwood44

https://t.co/PcHwmQM8p3

[Molly Powell 🍊 @mollyjourno]

A woman who suffered two strokes has said she believed high blood pressure was simply something she “lived with” and “never imagined it would nearly kill” her

for @PA_Real_Life

https://t.co/Wsaux1DelC