A 21-year-old man who thought he had a back ache tragically passed away just days later with cancer.
Gerald Green initially put the pain down to the fact he needed a new bed, but his condition quickly began to deteriorate.
The lad, from Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland, started vomiting and was hiding his symptoms from his parents, mum Paula and dad Gerry, until he started coughing up blood.
Advert
He was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital on 19 January by his mother, where medics found he was severely anaemic and rushed him into surgery to drain his kidney.
Gerald sadly stopped breathing on the operating table and had to be resuscitated by doctors, who were then forced to put him into an induced coma to try and stabilise him.
When the young man later awoke, a series of tests revealed that he had an incurable, aggressive cancer.
Following his terminal diagnosis on 26 January, Gerald was transferred to St Vincent's Hospice for end of life care four days later - but he tragically passed away just hours after he arrived on 30 January.
Advert
His heartbroken family said they are in 'shock' following his extremely rapid decline and have urged people not to ignore any major changes to their body as it could save their life.
Gerald's devastated cousin, Ailley Colquhoun, said that the St Mirren FC fan was 'obviously scared' by his symptoms.
She told the Daily Record: "So we're urging anyone who has any symptoms like his to get checked out immediately, before it's too late."
The relative explained how Gerald's loved ones were informed that 'there was nothing they could do' for him as the cancer had already spread 'everywhere', including in his bones and his blood.
Advert
Ailley added: "Our whole family were with him when he died. He told us he loved us and he said goodbye. Those were his last words. He passed away a few hours later.
"It was so quick, it's hard to take in that he's actually gone. We're all in shock."
She has now launched a GoFundMe in memory of her beloved cousin in the hopes of raising funds to cover the costs of his funeral to give him 'the send off he deserves' while taking 'the financial pressure' off his heartbroken parents.
Ailley paid tribute to the 'great footballer' and 'funny, cheeky lad' who loved his dogs and St Mirren FC.
She continued: "Gerald was the youngest in the family and he was Paula and Gerry's only son.
Advert
"He was always up for a laugh and very easy going. He never took life too seriously. Everyone always says how polite and kind he was.
"He had his whole life ahead of him but he was unaware of what was going on until last week. It's just unbelievably sad."
Gerald had also been caring for his dad, Gerry, after he suffered a stroke.
Olivia Burke