Janet's Ride the Night Edinburgh fundraising page
Janet Forgan is raising money for Women V Cancer- Ride the Night Edinburgh 2019
Participants: Kirsty Forgan and Andrea Green
Story
There is a prologue to my mum’s three year long cancer story.
In 2012, she was virtually wheelchair-bound after being diagnosed with severe osteo and rheumatoid arthritis. Over the next three years, she endured five joint replacements and two minor joint operations. All were highly successful, in part due to Mum’s determination and diligence with her post op physio. After the last operation in December 2015, we all felt a huge sense of relief. Mum was feeling positive and looking forward to finally resuming an active life once the recovery from her last op was complete....
Then, just four months later in April 2016, she was diagnosed with incurable ovarian cancer. Up until two weeks prior to diagnosis, she’d had very few symptoms. She’d undergone countless tests and examinations to determine the cause of anaemia when she had her joints replaced, but all had shown nothing sinister. That’s why ovarian cancer is often called the “silent killer”.
We were all completely and utterly shell shocked and heart broken. The prognosis was grim; months left, probably not years. It seemed so unfair.
Still, Mum wanted to give the treatment that was offered a go, even if it was a long shot. She started on chemotherapy, which led to major abdominal surgery being possible. Since then she’s had another three rounds of chemotherapy with treatment-free periods in between. It’s not been easy for her. Chemo takes time and takes its toll on the body and the side effects are unpleasant to say the least. It’s been a rollercoaster all the way and we’ve been told on at least one occasion that ‘no more can be done’ and to prepare for the very worst.
But yet, with the incredible treatment at The Christie in Manchester and the emotional support of her family and many friends, she is still here today. She has defied the odds and it is nothing short of a miracle. When she is buzzing around my kitchen, organising cinema trips with her friends or busy gardening it can be easy to forget that she is sick. I still have no idea how she manages to pull herself out of bed in the morning when I know what side effects she is having to endure, but that’s my mum. She won’t give in! Her overwhelmingly positive attitude is so inspiring.
I hope that by completing Edinburgh’s Ride the Night I can do my very small bit to raise money for three fantastic charities; Breast Cancer Care, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. The date - 29th June - is two days after Mum’s 80th birthday so it will be a celebration of a major milestone for her too.
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Thank you so much for your support. It means the world to us.