--------UPDATE ------

It's with an incredibly heavy heart that I update this. We lost our beautiful Fi as the cancer finally took it's toll. I don't want to say that she lost her battle, because that would be undermining the bravery, strength and sheer size of the spirit that she had, and that is something that can never be beaten or lost.

The cancer may have claimed her body, but her spirit, soul and love will always remain.

**Fiona's funeral will be held at Baswich Crematorium, on the 16th January at 3pm** with drinks to follow TBC. Strict instructions from the lady herself are that no-one is to wear black! Her family have requested that only family flowers be sent, but have asked that those who wish to remember her through a gift can assist us with ongoing fundraising which will help towards Fi's funeral costs and also enable donations to Katherine House Hospice in her memory.

So it is with great sadness and a hole in my heart, that this page we started just over a year ago now becomes an 'In Memoriam'. Both myself, and her family want to pass on our extreme gratitude to everyone who has helped support them and who have expressed their love and wishes during this awful year.

""Your life was a blessing. Your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words, and missed beyond measure. Remember... If you see butterflies near, it means Fiona is here. ""

To our brave butterfly warrior. You are free. We love you. 🦋🦋

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We are fundraising to help send terminally ill Fiona on a special holiday with her 3 young children. Anything donated over this amount will be donated to various Cancer charities in her honour.

It is with great sadness that I have to to tell you the story of Fiona, who is just 33 years old and from Stafford in the UK. She is one of my best friends, and I am immensely glad to have known her for the past 16+ years. I am so proud to be able to call her my friend and 'Sister from another Mister'.

This is her Story.

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- There's a new girl in town...

In year 10 of Wolgarston High School, Penkridge, a new girl joined. This wasn't just any new girl, though. She was loud and brash, with a thick Wolverhampton accent that you could hear right the way across the playground. At first, we weren't sure what to make of this new kid, who boomed through the halls with her infectious laugh and a huge presence that meant she never went anywhere unnoticed.

This was Fiona Love, and everybody wanted to be her friend. She was never one of the popular kids, but she had a heart even bigger than her smile, which was no mean feat. People who came to know her adored her and her endless ability to bounce back from anything life threw at her.

- 'Foxy'

Despite what was difficult upbringing and childhood, her personality and bouncy character was addictive. It's no wonder that her nickname in school soon became 'Foxy'. She is the ultimate Tigger on steroids. A mix of foxy sass of Betty Boop and Dita von Teese, with the sharp wit of Ruby Wax. Her springy mop of thick curls turned even her steeliest glare into a sultry smoulder. But more fool anyone who crossed her and her firey temper, for which she makes NO apologies.

She was, and even now is still hilariously, and unmistakenly, Fee.

- Welcome to the family...

She left school and later went on to have three gorgeous children, Tiffany, Harrison and Freya. They all managed to inherit the best parts of Fee's natural, beautiful and radiant personality. Fee took to motherhood with natural passion like a duck to water. We didn't realise at the time, but she was BORN to be a mother. Having children of her own was the piece of the puzzle which let Fee blossom into the bravest, most amazing and inspirational woman I know.

This isn't to say that Motherhood was easy for her, but she approached it with love, kindness, and a unceasing dedication to her children, who are her whole world. It is because of her that her children are growing to be strong, independent people who exude compassion and care for others.

- The day that Tigger lost her bounce...

In 2016/17, Fee started to have abdominal pain and unexplained bleeding. Although this wasn't neccessarily something new to her, such is the joy of being a woman, she approached the GP's surgery a number of times with concerns. She was repeatedly given medications to help control the bleeding, and sent on her way.

Some months later, she was still having problems and eventually became so unwell she ended up in Stafford Hospital's A&E with severe bleeding. She was repeatedly told there was nothing wrong by various doctors and her GP, despite various tests, visits and emergency hospital admissions. The pain and bleeding continued, gradually worsening and leaving her exhausted and in agony.

Eventually, in February 2018, she collapsed at home in the middle of the night and stopped breathing. Her quick thinking family called 999 and she was rushed by Ambulance to the University of North Staffordshire Hospital in Stoke on Trent.

She underwent countless hours of emergency surgery to stem severe internal bleeding from numerous masses and tumours in her abdomen and reproductive system. Due to the significant loss of blood, she died multiple times on the operating table. Thanks to the amazing and tireless work of the surgeons and surgery staff, she was eventually stabilised enough to receive 10 blood transfusions over approximately 4 days that ultimately saved her life.

However, whilst operating, the surgeons were able to clearly see that Fee had developed advanced cancer, and Oncology specialists were immediately brought in to undertake tests to determine the severity of the disease and it's prognosis.

After 15 days in hospital she was allowed home to await the results and more tests.

The following week, after CT scans, MRI, PET scans, biopsy's and investigations, she was told the full extent of the disease. Fee, her mum Cathy and I sat in the Oncologist's office together to hear the news.

The diagnosis was heartbreaking. Stage 4 Cervical cancer, which had not only entered her abdomen, where it was compressing her internal organs, but it had also spread throughout her lymphatic system, travelling to glands in her groin, kidney area and had even travelled as far as her neck. Due to the slow growing nature of most Cervical cancers, this had meant that the cancer had gone undetected for some time.

Sadly, she was told that the cancer was incurable, and although intensive Chemotherapy could be used to help shrink the tumours and improve her overall symptoms, the average lifespan for patients with similar cancer that advanced was around 2-3 years.

- Looking to the future...

The few weeks that followed passed in a blur of tears, antibiotics and morphine. With appointments, tests, consultant visits, medication reviews and constant phone calls from specialists and well-meaning friends and family. To the outside world, she was determined to fight and hit the cancer head on, only letting on to her closest friends and family the difficult struggle and pain going on behind closed doors.

On the 19th of March, she started the first of what will be 4 months of intensive Chemotherapy. Shortly before her Chemo was due to start, she became unwell after picking up a virus, so was admitted to Katherine House Hospice to allow her time to recover, receive stronger pain medications and to rest for a few days to make sure her body was strong enough for the Chemo.

Today, the 19th March is D-Day, and the first step in a long road. Her friends and family will be with her every step of the way.

The Goal...

Now this is where you come in, dear Reader.

Fee's friends and family are uniting to try and give her and her young children the chance to have wonderful experiences and memories of their mum to last a lifetime. This is such a difficult time for the family as a whole, and we want to help her children remember happy memories, away from the hospitals, pain and hell that cancer brings with it.

We want to help get her there but can only do so much, so are asking anyone who is willing and able, to donate what they can afford to help us reach our goal.Fee will need suitable support and care during their trip. So please, dig deep and donate what you can. Alternatively, if you know of any organisations or businesses which would be able to help us make their dream come true, please get in touch.

Not only that, but Fee has also received fantastic care and support from a number of organisations and charities, including Macmillan, Katherine House Hospice, Stoke on Trent Hospital and the Cancer Suite at Stafford Hospital, to name but a few.

Therefore, any money raised over and above what is needed will be split between charities and agencies with support cancer care and help treat the patients and victims of this awful disease.

Please help us raise awareness...

Cervical cancer is generally a slow growing, and easily diagnosed cancer which can affect women of any age. The UK Government offers Cervical screening and HPV vaccines to eligible women, and so we want to ask all women to make sure they regular get smear tests and HPV vaccines when offered. Please also encourage your friends, mothers, sisters, aunties... everyone to get regularly checked.

Cervical cancer, when caught early, has a very good survival rate. However, the longer it is left, the quicker that survival rate declines so it is crucial that it is caught early.

Please, talk to your friends and loved ones about screening and doing what they can to protect themselves from cancer.

Thank you.

We love you Fee. Kick that Cancer's ass, Queen.

Written by Sarah Giles, on the authority of Fee's Family. <3