In Memory of my mum Sonja Gough

22.08.1967 - 19.02.2013

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Sonja Gough's Story

Between April 2009 up until November 2011, my mum Sonja underwent numerous brain surgeries for brain tumours, brain absesses and even a brain aneurysm. It wasnt until that November that we recieved the good news that after almost three years of treatments, she finally had a clear MRI scan.

However, this wasn't the only great news she was to recieve as in December 2011 myself and Andy told her she would be expecting a grandchild and on the 8th September 2012 Sophia Neve Matthews-Gough was born.

Four weeks after becoming a Nan, I took my mum to Whiston Hospital A&E for a chest x-ray as she kept on having recuring chest infections. Little did we know that the symtoms she had been experiencing was actually due to Cancer and she was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer on the 5th October 2012. She was quickly referred to an oncology consultant who told us that her Cancer was unfortunately not cureable but was possibly manageable with the help of chemotherapy and radiotherapy which ofcourse hold plenty of risks.

On the 1st November 2012 I attended the Lilac (Cancer) Centre at St Helens Hospital with my mum whilst she underwent her first lot of chemotherapy and things seamed to be fine until on the 10th November when she started experiencing extreme stomach cramps and was rushed to hospital by ambulance. The hospital then kept her in, under the impression she was suffering from constipation. It wasn't until early hours of 12th November that consultants decided there was something seriously wrong and she was taken to theatre for an emergency operation to see what was causing the problem. My dad and I were told that she did not have much chance of surviving the operation due to the fact that she was at her most vunerable from the chemotherapy.

After hours of waiting, we were given the news that the severe cramps were due to a blood clot that was caused from the chemotherapy. The clot had cut off the circulation to her bowel which had slowly begun to die and 52 inches of her small intestines had to be removed. She was brought out of theatre and taken to the Intensive Care Unit on a ventilator which was acting as life support and breathing for her.

After spending almost two weeks in Intensive Care, being told she was not going to survive and things were not looking good - my mum was brought home "to die".

My mum out ruled any consultants conclusions as not only did she survive all of this and start to become herself again, but she also requested another appointment with the oncology consultant to ask if she could continue with chemotherapy. He agreed and she went on to have another lot and that time she was thankfully fine! 

Unfortunately the third lot of chemotherapy was put off due to her having low blood levels and as the weeks past she became more frustrated at the thought that her cancer could be spreading. Another appointment was set up with the onoclogy consultant who thought that she was not well enough to continue with treatment but whilst in the appointment she begged for the chance to "Beat Cancer" - "I will beat this, I just want the chance to try" she said to him as he set up her next chemotherapy appointment.

On February 7th 2012 I again attended the Lilac Centre with my mum whilst she underwent the chemotherapy treatment, she was so happy she was given the opportunity to extend her time with Sophia. The thing with chemotherapy is 10-14 days after you've had it, you basically have no ammune system, you become tired and all your energy goes on getting you through the bad days and unfortunately my mum did not beat cancer.

On February 19th 2012 she passed away during the night peacefully in her sleep.  Life really is too short and you really don't know the minute, we had absolutely no idea she was going to die.

She may not have beat Cancer, but she was the bravest person Ive ever known to go through so many years of bad things and to not once say 'why me'.

My life will never be the same again without her and I think about her and miss her every single day. Rest in peace mum, this is for you xxx