Kim wasn’t just my big sister but she was my best friend and now guardian angel. She was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma in 2009 where she underwent gruelling and extensive treatments of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, an operation and a stem cell transplant but unfortunately in January 2012 she was told it was incurable and passed away on the 17 of August of 2012 three days before my 18th birthday.

In the beginning Kim initially developed pains in her right leg, we assumed it was due to a sports injury as she was playing a lot of sport at the time. She rested the leg as well as being prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs by the GP. However, when she also developed a lump in the same spot as the pain, her GP referred her for an MRI scan at Blackpool Victoria Hospital before she was then sent to Manchester Royal Infirmary for a follow-up scan and biopsy. We as a family remained convinced she had developed a sports injury and were completely devastated to be told she had a cancerous tumour and needed immediate treatment. Kim, who was only aged 18 at the time, was referred to The Christie hospital’s Young Oncology Unit in Manchester where it was discovered the cancer had already spread to her lungs.

She was so brave, inspirational and never stopped smiling. when Kim got told her cancer was terminal she decided to write a bucket list of things she wanted to do before she died, it included driving racing cars, going out in just a coat, wearing odd shoes for a day, going in a helicopter etc. unfortunately she never got to complete this list and I have taken it upon myself and some of her closes friends to finish it off in her memory. It’s now over 10 months since she passed away and I’ve finally got the courage to book the sky dive. I’m nervous and excited.

Click Sargent is an amazing cause that helped Kim so much in her last few months when she was the ambassador for the Blackpool race for life and also the face of the Blackpool hospital end of life campaign. They not only helped her face the reality but they have given us the support we really needed to come to terms with the facts and also the support after she passed. 

so please please donate so click sargent can continue to help other young people with cancer!

 

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