So in April 2019, my beautiful sister-in-law Steph sadly passed away from cancer. She left behind her husband Benji as a single dad to their son William. She was just 44 years old.
A few years ago she was diagnosed with cancer of the breast and lymph nodes. Like the trouper she was, she carried on through a mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. She'd spend time away from her son William, who was literally her life, because after certain treatment she couldn't be around kids for 24hours. She was given the all clear eventually which was amazing news.
This year though, she started to get headaches, feel faint, feel rough in general. It started happening just after mother's Day if I remember rightly. She thought she just had a bad case of the flu or something.
It got worse over 3 weeks and by Monday 15th April she was admitted to hospital and a scan showed masses on her brain... Over the next few days things just got worse.
Friday 19th April, William turned 6. Steph was normally the one who arranged his party, food, party favours etc... She was always the hostess with the mostess, William was the sparkle in her eyes. This year, William spent his birthday with his daddy and close family and friends while his mum was in a hospital bed.
Benji was with William all day and returned to the hospital that night to stay with Steph. We lost her the very next morning. She managed to hang on until her boy had had his day.
Steph was the most beautiful soul inside and out. Her eyes sparkled, she was kind and funny, she was so easy to be around, she had an amazing laugh and she just lit up a room.
She was taken from us so quickly, things have had to change so much for everyone- all because of cancer.
Benji is raising William on his own. He's doing such an amazing job. William is doing great, but he doesn't get to grow up with his mum. Such a beautiful family ripped apart by this dreadful disease...
I'm raising money by running a half marathon next March. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not the runner in our family- that's the husband's job usually! I'm more of a wine and cake kind of girl. But I'm doing it for Steph. I want to push myself for something worthwhile. In this instance it's for someone worthwhile, aswell as something.
It's not just about raising money, it's about raising awareness. This happens so often, more often than it should. It could happen to anyone at any time.
Please please donate- anything would be amazing.
