"Maggie’s gave us both hope during a time of great fear and uncertainty."

Debbie’s Story

In March 2018 I went to my GP with a lump in my breast, I was told that it felt like fatty tissue but I would be referred for a mammogram to be on the safe side. Despite my results coming back all clear the lump continued to grow along with my anxiety.

Fast forward four months, a referral to The Nightingale and several biopsies later. My worst nightmare was confirmed, I had three tumours in my breast one was 5 inches in size...the cancer had also spread to my lymph nodes. 

My lovely mum really struggled with my diagnosis as we were told I had a very aggressive stage 3 grade 3 cancer. She had already lost her son at 34 years of age and was now faced with the possibility of losing me. She was devastated and inconsolable, she couldn't talk to me or anyone else about my situation.

I visited Maggie’s with my friend initially as I had been told there were some informative sessions about chemotherapy and what to expect during treatment. They were all so helpful and friendly and made me feel even more prepared, I felt totally at ease there and felt my mum might benefit from visiting Maggie’s too.

I persuaded my mum to come with me on my second visit. I really wanted her to talk to someone as she was clearly struggling.... again everyone was so friendly and welcoming. It was a very cold day, too cold to go into the gardens, so we sat in one of the rooms overlooking the gardens. For the first time my mum talked about how she was feeling and broke down in floods of tears. She was so very scared, a mother’s natural instinct is to protect, she felt helpless as there was nothing she could do to take away what I was going through. 

After gruelling chemo, a mastectomy, lymph node removal and radiotherapy I was told I was cancer free and thankfully have remained so for nearly three years. My lovely mum was my best friend and my rock, we had always been so very close, she was by my side every step of my journey. But life can be so very cruel.... on 12th November 2020 my lovely mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, we were absolutely devastated and heartbroken to be told there was nothing they could do. I promised my lovely mum I would be with her every step of the way. Fourteen weeks from diagnosis my beautiful, brave, courageous mum passed away in my arms at St Anne's Hospice

Maggie’s gave us both hope during a time of great fear and uncertainty and for that I will always be so very grateful....