After the possibility of never being a mummy Nicky had the immense joy of becoming a mum to identical twin boys named Leo and Gabriel via IVF. She was enjoying every moment of motherhood and felt the luckiest person alive! Nicky's life changed in a moment when in April 2017 she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer whilst raising her 8 month year old twins with her fiancé.

In May 2017 Nicky had a mastectomy, and was psychologically and physically preparing to start chemotherapy. 3 days before her Chemotherapy was about to start her fiancé left her leaving Nicky alone.

With next to no financial support, no immediate family that can help and due to her not meeting any thresholds for government home support we are now as her cousins in a desperate position where we need to fund a nanny so Nicky can undergo further treatment, attend hospital and commence radiotherapy. A nanny will enable nicky to continue to be with the children and allow her much needed recovery time. The effects of chemotherapy are now more agressive. Travelling to and from a childcare provider alone with twin babies no car and feeling sick is not an option.

Social care have been involved but have limited resources and cannot provide the level of childcare that is needed. They have only commited to 15 days of out of home care where nicky would have to travel on two trains, on radiation days to drop them off ,with twins, to then go to hospital for treatment (4hours) and then back again.

Nicky (before she fell pregnant) worked within childrens services and as such has exhausted all possible lines of support. This includes, homestart, children centre services, local authority, cancer social worker, breast care nurse, macmillan and local churches to name a few.

The only organisation that has been some help is TAMBA ( twins and multiple birth association) they did provide a nanny for 2 days per week. Sadly, this has now stopped. : ( They were amazing! The support they could provide is what we now need to raise funds for.

At the moment Nicky has been looking after the boys with minimal support whilst undergoing chemotherapy treatment but as the chemotherapy progresses she is getting weaker and is experiencing horrendous side effects.The process of chemotherapy is of course horrendous and childcare for those days are essential on these days.. however... its 2-3 days after the chemotherapy appointments occur that the aches, pains and nausea kick in. Simple things like picking the boys up, cooking, cleaning, eating...are a struggle. She does this alone.

Radiation will be every day for three weeks and the side effects will be horrendous (blistering, sickness, bleeding). All on her chest area which means, she cannot hold her babies. It is these days essentially and the immediate days after she will struggle to function for herself let alone twin babies.

Throughout this pain Nicky has shown such bravery and strength every day, never showing the boys how much physical pain and heart ache she is enduring, however as treatment carry's on, the symptoms are getting worse and we need the help to fund childcare so Nicky can take the time to sleep, rest and heal.

Unfortunately as we all know childcare is expensive, and identical twins are even more. Double the cost. Without going into too much detail...Nicky has been left with cancer, two babies and crippling financial circumstances. She has no more tears left to cry...she is the most inspirational mother i know!

We are trying to fundraise £10,000 to support Nickys full time childcare needs over her Chemotherapy and Radiation period and any extra to go on the boys welfare (Car seats have been removed..., nappies, milk, clothes, food!!) At this point we have minimal support and any donation would help, even a £1!

Thank you so so much for any help. Please follow Nicky and the boys journey on instagram. She has chosen to document this time as much as possible so hopefully one day the boys understand exactly what has happened and just how amazing their mother is!

Instagram: twin_mama_nicky_leo_gabriel