Lou's fight to stay alive .....

August 2024 …. update

hello everyone , it’s been a while since we updated the site. We were all so overwhelmed with everyone’s generosity in summer last year and it really boosted Lou and her ability to make some memories and keep going with the meds . A year on and she’s still defying those odds and continues to spend time with her family and friends making incredible memories . But in doing so , it means that funds are running low and we’d really like to give her a further boost . Ideally something to help her get around a little easier as the chemo takes it out of her and it’s tiring for her to walk a lot or get out of the house . If anyone is in a position to

top up the funds , no matter how little , it would be greatly appreciated … many thanks , Lou’s mates x

We are raising funds to help Lou and her family pay for alternative medication to prolong her life and give her as much additional time with her family as possible. After fighting cancer since late 2018, the devastation of losing her son in a hit and run and her nearly dying twice due to kidney failure, this family deserves every chance available. They have suffered excessive pain and sadness over the past few years.

Lou is the most positive person I know; she profoundly 'infects' all those around her.

Anything you can donate will make such a difference to them - they deserve a chance - Lou deserves a chance .....

Lou's Timeline - you couldn't make this up...

Late 2018 - Having recently turned 45 - Much loved Fiancee, Daughter, Sister , Mother of 3, Nanny of 1 and friend to so so many Lou is diagnosed with cervical cancer after having a routine smear. ( Please go for your smear when called ladies)

Jan 2019 - Radical Hysterectomy and declared cancer free - Yay! Job Done and huge smiles all round !

March 2020 - Covid hits, and routine checkups are delayed - Lou starts to suffer back pain, even making her partner buy her a big expensive bed as she thinks it is her old bed.

September 2020 - Finally get a check up and sadly cancer has returned. Tough one but still she keeps smiling....

February 2021 - First Cycle of Chemo and then further rounds every 21 days - Cycle finishes in June 2021. Still she keeps smiling ......

September 2021 - Just one day before his 18th Birthday, Lou's youngest child, Dylan is tragically killed in a hit and run, devastating Lou and the whole family and community - The person responsible has still not come forward. The mental stress of this and the subsequent police investigations, hoax confessions and inquests takes its toll on Lou and her physical and psychological strength to fight this illness, and yet she persists with all her might with a view to getting better to help support her girls and her Fiancee and see the person responsible bought to justice. It's tough to smile through this one when the grief is all consuming but her steely determination shines through. The cancer knows no boundaries and has not gone away.....

November 2021 -Despite everything she has been through already, Lou engages in further treatment for 5 weeks consisting of Radiotherapy for 4 days and Chemo for 1 - It's exhausting, and she feels so very poorly. Whilst her eyes show her pain , her smile remains....

February 2022 - Lou marries the love of her life in a beautiful ceremony with family and friends and does her utmost to party with everyone despite feeling desperately poorly. The smiliest of days making memories even though bittersweet as Dylan's lack of presence is deeply felt ...

Just days later, her Kidneys fail, and she is fighting for her life in ICU. But she isn't done yet and she fights with everything she has got and lives to tell her tale - it wasn't taking her that easily! Following this, she is set up for scans every 3 months. She promises everyone not to nearly die again and that smile and steely determination is ever present...

June 2022 - Lou's scan shows cancer in her Bowel - more devastating news. She is referred to the Royal Marsden who inform her that it is inoperable. Another blow...

August 2022 - Consultant informs Lou that her only option is further Chemo.

October 2022 - Chemo starts every 21 days - she suffers every physical and mental side effect known but after a few days starts to see the light and there is a glimmer of that smile - then - she is rushed to the hospital, yet again with acute kidney failure and sepsis. Give this woman a break !! ....Once again, she survives against the odds, but.........

Present Day - Lou is told that due to the kidney failure, chemo is no longer an option and in fact the options have run out - she is told alongside her family that she has 3 months to live. She updates all of her friends with the prognosis and explains she has no regrets about her life , she feels more alive than she has felt for some time. Even in the face of the biggest blow her smile is there ...

But it is not over yet - she is determined with the help of the Always Hope foundation to be able to pay for altenative medication that will improve her kidney count so that she can restart her chemo and prolong her life as much as possible for the sake of her amazing husband and girls - she is determined but it is costly and likely to be in the region of £500-600 per month. Lou has not been able to work during the majority of this period so there is just one income in the house and the cost of living without any additional costs is tough on us all right now. Your donation will help pay for her medication and give her a fighting chance to see Christmas 2022 and hopefully way beyond making as many memories as possible along the way. Please help our Lou to keep smiling and be there for her beautiful family; they have suffered beyond comprehension.

'' A negative mindset will never provide a positive life.''

THANK YOU - FROM LOU AND ALL HER LOVED ONES

Please note: Whilst talking to Lou about setting up this page; she has requested that it is made clear that any potential residual funds would be distributed to her family as her life insurance ended in December 2021.