Jess Gibelli, a 28-year-old from Addlestone, Surrey, never imagined that the bloating and fatigue she blamed on a stomach bug would lead to a life-altering diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin Burkitt lymphoma. Balancing two demanding jobs—as a florist and running her event décor business, Viva La Fiesta—Jess often ignored her worsening symptoms, pushing herself until her resting heart rate suddenly surged to 160 beats per minute in December 2025. That alarming spike triggered an emergency hospital visit and an ultrasound revealing a daunting 30cm abdominal mass.
Despite her initial belief that she was just fighting off a bug, Jess underwent swift, life-saving surgery to remove the tumours, followed by the removal of her ovaries and an ileostomy. The diagnosis landed in January 2026, and since then, Jess has been hospitalized and undergoing aggressive chemotherapy, expected to end in April.
“This started like a sickness bug in mid-November 2025,” Jess recalls. “But the exhaustion and pain wouldn’t go away. It felt impossible to keep up with work, and I was often exhausted beyond words.” The physical demands of her jobs made it even harder, and gradually, she was unable to work at all.
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After being rushed to St Peter’s Hospital, Jess’s condition worsened with complications including sepsis, necessitating intensive care and a medically induced coma. “The emergency surgery was high-risk. The tumour was growing rapidly, and the doctors acted quickly to save my life,” she said.
When the diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma came in, there was both relief and disbelief. “Knowing what it was brought answers, but it was overwhelming to face cancer at such a young age,” Jess explains. Transferred to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, she has since been receiving intensive chemotherapy.
Supporting Jess through this journey are her two sisters, Sophie and Danielle, who set up a GoFundMe that has raised over £16,000 to help with medical expenses, recognizing that Jess’s illness has affected her ability to earn. “Jess is incredibly strong and resilient,” says Sophie, “She’s brought us so much joy, and now it’s our turn to support her.” Sophie also praises the medical teams for their compassionate care throughout Jess’s ordeal.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Jess remains hopeful. “Thank you to everyone who has supported me. Sharing my story is my way of encouraging others not to ignore their symptoms and to seek medical advice early.”