TikTok mum, 34, battling leukaemia diagnosed with COVID
A TikTok star and mum of five has revealed she’s been diagnosed with coronavirus while undergoing treatment for leukaemia.
Tia Bee Mele Stokes, from St George in Utah, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in April and has become an online sensation for filming herself dancing in her hospital room.
The 34-year-old, who runs a dance studio called The Vault, has been praised by her more than one million followers for being so upbeat during such a difficult time.
“If I’m going to have cancer you better believe it’s going to be dancing fun cancer,” she posted on her popular Instagram account on her fifth day of chemotherapy.
However, Ms Stokes’ positive attitude took a hit on Tuesday (local time) when she announced she had also been diagnosed with coronavirus while staying in the hospital.
“Asking for prayers more than ever right now and love,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
“My medical team is always concerned for me and ran some tests… and I tested positive for COVID.”
The 34-year-old said her doctors said it was inevitable she would catch the virus because she had no immune system.
They also told the mum she will have to fight it off on her own because any treatments could ruin her chances for a bone marrow transplant.
“I know there’s a miracle in this,” she said.
In a video posted on the dance teacher’s YouTube account, she detailed her COVID-19 symptoms.
"I have zero energy, I have body aches, headache non-stop, sore throat, my cough has gotten worse, mucus, nausea,” Ms Stokes said, adding she hadn’t been strong enough to dance this week.
In an Instagram post on Thursday (local time), the mum said she was going to continue to fight despite being “tested” and “uncomfortable”.
A post shared by TIA 🐝 choosing Happy (@thetiabeestokes) on
“I’m choosing now to live, love and choose to see the good and find all the rainbows in every opportunity I get no matter how dark the days may seem,” she said.
The 34-year-old has been inundated with support from other social media users, with many people saying they were praying for her.
“You got this!” a woman wrote.
“You are so strong. We are all cheering you on!” another said.
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