Helen’s story

This photo is a picture of me when I was a baby with my mum at the beach. She always told me how much she loved my swimming costume and the red jelly water shoes I wore at the beach.

In 2022 my mum got diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer. 

We were told it was incurable but she could have treatments to extend her life. My mum was so brave dealing with such a heavy diagnosis and took on chemo like a champ! 

She had strong chemo for a year and then had an operation to remove the tumours in summer of 2023. This surgery was a long 12 hours and the recovery was grueling and left her bed bound for weeks, but my mum still stayed strong and always had a smile on her face.

Unfortunately three months after the surgery her cancer began to grow again and she had to start chemo again. At first things were going smoothly however she was having issues with her pain management. She decided to take a break from chemo which we did not realise would be a mistake that would cost her, her life. 

Due to having a break from the chemo the cancer began to spread. She became jaundiced as the cancer spread to her liver, lungs and diaphragm. She became very weak and unwell and lost a lot of wait, she hardly looked like my mum at all. We had to get her bilirubin levels down to a suitable level before she could continue chemo. We worked hard and brought them down to where they needed to be, however my mum was very tired at this point. 

She decided not to continue with chemo. We said our final goodbye to her on the 7th October 2024. Life hasn’t been the same without her as she was so full of life and such an important member of the family. We are all so immensely proud of how hard she fought for 2.5yrs through such a difficult disease however I would do anything for one last hug and kiss from her. 

I feel like a part of me has died with her but I try my hardest to keep going every day and make her proud. I’m thankful that she was able to attend my graduation in July and watch me start my first ever teaching job in September. 

I try not to focus on the things my mum won’t be here for in the future and think about what life events she was here for in the past. She was the most beautiful woman and so full of life and every moment I can I bring her up in conversation. I am so proud to call her my mum and I hope one day I can be as brave and strong as she was.