![\"Ronnie](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1_Screenshot-2025-05-22-at-144008.png\")
Ronnie and his wife. (Image: SWNS)<\/p>\nRonnie was told he needed a blood test but would have to wait two weeks for it. At her wit’s end, Beth’s mum Anne took Ronnie to A&E.<\/p>\n
14:47, 22 May 2025Updated 15:54, 22 May 2025<\/p>\n
Ronnie and his wife. (Image: SWNS)<\/p>\n
A devoted stepfather has passed away from cancer<\/a> – after his symptoms were initially dismissed as constipation.<\/p>\n Beth Hunt, 42, a nurse from East Calder, lost her beloved stepfather Ronnie Haston<\/a> to myeloma in April 2024, just two weeks after he was admitted to hospital.<\/p>\n Ronnie, who was just 68, owned a hearing devices<\/a> business, and had always been active and healthy. He was making plans for his retirement, when he became suddenly unwell in March last year – but after a phone consultation with the GP, his symptoms were put down to constipation.<\/p>\n “It was two weeks<\/a> from admission to hospital until he died,” said Beth.<\/p>\n “He was fit and healthy, he had no underlying health conditions. It was a complete shock to us all. He didn’t get to enjoy one day of retirement with my mum or do any of the future they had planned<\/a> together.<\/p>\n “It started with constipation, which the GP<\/a> gave him laxatives for. He was really fatigued and had muscle pain. He just didn’t look right.”<\/p>\n Ronnie was told he needed a blood<\/a> test but would have to wait two weeks for it. At her wit’s end, Beth’s mum Anne took Ronnie to A&E.<\/p>\n Tests there showed his kidney function<\/a> had plummeted to just 14 per cent. He had extremely high calcium levels. He was eventually diagnosed with myeloma, a form of blood cancer which around 33,000 people across the UK are living with.<\/p>\n Sadly, Ronnie passed away after two weeks in hospital<\/a>. “They’d said he would start chemo and they had a full plan,” said Beth.<\/p>\n “They said he would be a good candidate<\/a> for a stem cell transplant. He ended up having two lots of chemo whist very unwell with pneumonia and then two days later he died.<\/p>\n “He pretty much went<\/a> into multi-organ failure. It’s shocking, completely shocking.” She added: “It’s not people’s fault, it’s the system’s fault.<\/p>\n “The catalogue of errors, the wait. We kept saying, ‘He needs a blood test’, but he couldn’t get a blood test for two weeks.<\/p>\n “In this day and age how is that acceptable? If somebody is unwell<\/a>, you need the blood test now. Even in hospital, it was all too little too late.<\/p>\n “The big thing for me is educating<\/a> GPs. The symptoms of myeloma are sometimes non-descript and not obvious.<\/p>\n “You could put them down to muscle ache and being tired, but these should be red flags for a GP, especially in someone with no underlying conditions and having never been<\/a> to a GP apart from with cellulitis from mosquito bites.<\/p>\n “If Ronnie hadn’t been so unwell<\/a> by the time he got into hospital, he would have been in a better position to fight it.”<\/p>\n In honour of her beloved stepfather<\/a>, mum-of-two Beth has decided to run the Edinburgh Marathon to raise money for Myeloma UK.<\/p>\n “I signed up to the Edinburgh Marathon<\/a> on the evening of Ronnie’s funeral,” she said.<\/p>\n “When I ran a 10-mile eight years ago,<\/a> mum and Ronnie were my biggest supporters. They ran across Edinburgh to meet me at as many points as they could.<\/p>\n “It’s my first marathon, but when I decide<\/a> to do something I do it. I know I can do at least half but I’ll probably have to push through the last six miles.<\/p>\n “I think of Ronnie and my mum when I run – the last year without<\/a> him has been awful for her. If she can wake up without him and can put one foot in front of the other then I can take it one step at a time too.”<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here if you’re on mobile<\/strong><\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n If you’re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click ‘Join Community’.<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n So far, she has raised over \u00a31,500 of her \u00a32,000 target<\/a>, and hopes to ensure that no other families have to go through the sudden loss of a loved one.<\/p>\n “Ronnie always was a strong presence<\/a> in our family,” said Beth<\/p>\n “I’d had him in my life since I was 19. You don’t realise the impact someone had until you lose them. He was a gentle man. He was always someone you could lean on. He’d never judge, he’d always support you and just show up.<\/p>\n![\"Beth](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Dad-passes-away-from-cancer-after-symptoms-dismissed-as-constipation.jpg\")
Beth Hunt (right) with her mum Anne and stepdad Ronnie(Image: Myeloma UK \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n![\"Ronnie](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1747984515_242_0_Dad-passes-away-from-cancer-after-symptoms-dismissed-as-constipation.jpg\")
Ronnie Haston who died(Image: Myeloma UK \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1747398730_254_0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\")
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n![\"Beth](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1747984517_739_0_Dad-passes-away-from-cancer-after-symptoms-dismissed-as-constipation.jpg\")
Beth Hunt(Image: Myeloma UK \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n