In the quiet rhythm of everyday life, alarms can come when we least expect them like in the form of a subtle notification. That’s how it unfolded for 57-year-old Sam Adams. Already carrying the weight of grief from losing her father, her faithful dog, and the collapse of her marriage she thought her body’s aches and lethargy were just stress. But her Apple Watch had other plans.

An alert flagged abnormally low heart rate readings. Sam, attributing her fatigue to jetlag and grief, might have ignored it until her pharmacist insisted on checking her blood pressure. Before long, her GP rang with urgency, advising rest and caution. An ECG revealed extra heartbeats, prompting further scans. That’s when the real shock came: a brain tumour, hidden and unexpected.

Sam remembers, “It was earth-shattering.” In disbelief, she called her sister, aware for the first time of how fragile life truly is. Doctors offered some solace: the tumour was likely benign but inoperable due to its location. Lifelong monitoring and daily aspirin became her new reality.

Today, she calls the tumour “Timmy” a curious name for a constant concern. Ahead of every scan, the anxiety mounts. That haunting anticipation, she dubs “scanxiety.” Yet, amid the worry, Sam finds purpose: she has embraced breathwork to soothe her nervous system and process trauma. It echoed so deeply she became a life coach and breathwork facilitator, now guiding others toward healing before their bodies demand attention.

Sam’s story is a gentle reminder: sometimes, it takes a watch on our wrist to save our lives not just the tech, but the courage to listen when it speaks. And despite the shadow of uncertainty, she moves forward—braver, calmer, and with a heart still hopeful.