Sky Sports presenter Jo Wilson is opening up about her battle with cancer in a new documentary. It’s a story she shares in her remarkable documentary “Football, Cancer and Me.” Wilson was diagnosed with stage three cervical cancer in 2022, shortly after she had her daughter Mabel. Her story is a testament of resilience and hope and the profound impact that motherhood can have even in the darkest of times.
When diagnosed, Mabel was only 18 months old. This life-altering news came as a shock to Wilson, who immediately faced the daunting question, “Am I going to die?” Against her fears though, her visible interests were more for her daughter and less for herself. Despite her struggles, Wilson placed an emphasis on being a mother during her treatment while dealing with the toll her illness took on her life.
Wilson’s documentary will be featured on Sky Sports News at 4 pm on Wednesday. In it, she tackles difficult issues in frank discussions with big names including David Brooks, Henri Lansbury, Tony Mowbray and Emma Saunders. These candid conversations not only shed light on her personal experiences but raise awareness to what it’s really like living with cancer.
Wilson’s treatment plan was one of the most intensive I’ve heard of, five weeks of chemotherapy every Wednesday. She also received brachytherapy, a form of internal radiotherapy that meant three days in hospital. During the procedure, they placed 14 metal rods throughout her body. This reality, as well as the severity of her ongoing decline, was made painfully clear by this experience. Even after our treatment, she needed three more days to recover.
Like so many caregivers, the emotional toll of her mother’s illness took a significant toll on Wilson. She wasn’t able to be with Mabel during the treatment because careful precautions against infection had landed them both in isolation. This separation was mind-blowingly hard on her, but she credits Mabel as her anchor during this stormy time. Through it all, the bond they shared gave Wilson something to fight for — and the strength she needed to defeat her disease.
Cancer-free for two-and-a-half years, Wilson says she thinks about her experience nearly every day. Through it all, her journey has made her into a more powerful and resilient warrior. These days, she tells that story with fervor — inspired, enlightened and encouraged by the sport, and the family of football. Through “Football, Cancer and Me,” she aims to shed light on the intersection of personal battles and the sport she loves.
We think that the doc will speak to a lot of people, because it’s this really rich reinforcing narrative of struggle and triumph. If people ever doubt the remarkable strength of an individual to bounce back, Wilson’s story is proof. It shows us that hope is equally as important beyond the field as it is within.
Leave a Reply