I found a lump on my Breast whilst on holiday and went to the GP and had urgent referral to the hospital where On the 7th November 2019 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, at the time I initially struggled with the diagnosis and with what was going to happen to me and how was I going to break the news to the children without them thinking ‘mums going to die’.

Due to the size of the Cancer I had to have a single mastectomy and after this operation discovered ‘the alien had grown tentacles’ it had spread to my lymph nodes which was a 2nd operation to remove it.

My treatment plan was Chemotherapy/ hormone therapy/ radiotherapy and if I’m honest I was terrified , the being ‘wonky’ from having the single mastectomy didn’t worry me (I could hide this) , but the fear I was going to loose my hair, eye-brows and eyelashes through chemotherapy did, that people will look at me and treat me different and that I will look ill.

However on the first day on the Pevensey day ward I was greeted by a friendly receptionist who was smily and cheerful and seemed to know most of the patients by names, the ward was full of warmth and care and the nurse who showed me round eased all my fears immediately. Throughout my chemotherapy this warmth and care remained and made one of the most difficult times in my life so much easier, they gave me the confidence within myself to be ‘ Me’ . With this confidence in which they have instilled in me I have been able to brave the shave, and learnt that no matter what you look like on the outside the importance of what is inside that matters.

No amount of wards will be able to express my gratitude to the Pevensey ward and each member of staff are definitely ‘unsung heroes’, but also to the patients who shared there journeys with me and gave me ‘hope’ and confidence to fight Cancer and knowing that I was not alone.

So with this in mind I wanted to give something back to them and have decided to raise money for Pevensey day ward for staff and patients to benefit from to support there journeys.

During my treatment I had to go into isolation due to Covid-19. I am normally a very active person with lots of energy, this I knew was going to be difficult to manage. I tried all the usual advice you get - read, watch films, colour, rest, mindfulness, backing and probably many more suggestions. What I did discover was a hidden talent for art! I began to paint stones, starting with small ones with cats or animal on. More recently I have been painting stones with gnomes!! Breast Cancer fighters…… People that I have shown have liked them and offered me money for them, initially I was not sure why anyone would want to buy theses from me however friends and family kept on at me, starting me thinking…….. I CAN give something back to Pevensey wards through donations for my Gnomes!