Hi all. I have made the decision this year to ask for any amount of money to be donated to this charity rather than Christmas presents. I am doing this because I already have all I need apart from one thing. Raising money for this charity will not bring my mum back, but it may prevent others from going through what I and others I know have went through. I understand that everyone has their different charities that they believe in, so that is why I am doing it this way. It means your Christmas present to me is helping others. This is what I need. So please, NO PRESENTS JUST GIVE! Thank you in advance. 

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Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am doing this because my mum lost her life to this horrible disease at the age of 51.  She had been back and forth to the Doctors for almost a year with the same symptoms, gradually getting worse.  Unfortunately, they thought she was a hypochondriac and kept fobbing her off!  (This didn't help off course)

On the 6th of January 2006 she was taken to A&E by her husband after she didn't know what day it was or where she was!  The Doctor, straight away after seeing her 'fire tartan' on her lower tummy and back, said he thought it was her Pancreas.  She was admitted straight away, given a CT scan on the 11th January and given the diagnosis on the 12th.  I was called from college and was taken to the hospital with my sister and brother.  I already knew it was bad; she had lost so much weight!  She had seen a Doctor only a few weeks before this happened!

Being taken into 'the room' with everyone was horrible!  I had already done a little googling and kind of expected what was coming, but it didn't stop the pain......

Mum sat opposite me, my sister and brother with her head to the ground stating 'I have cancer..... It's in my Pancreas and has spread to my Liver and Lungs'.  We didn't cry..... we had to be strong for Mum so that could wait, but it didn't stop a few tears whilst asking questions.  I can't fully remember everything as I was in a daze.

After that, everything moved quickly.... she was moved to the Hospice not long after that, where she spent the last of her days.  The only outings she had were across to the coffee shop a couple of times, and a wee trip to Asda with her husband where he bought her new pj's and a huge teddy.

Within a few weeks, she became withdrawn, no conversation, pretending she was sleeping..... I know this because my partner noticed that she would watch us but then close her eyes when we looked her way.

We were there with her when we could, I still had college and was determined to finish it!  I needed my mum to be proud of me for once!

On Saturday 1st April, I was on my way for a visit with my partner, and mum's husband phoned to say to go because it was her last day.  My sister came, but couldn't stay in the room.  My brother couldn't go at all.  I stayed put as I wanted to be there.  There were lots of us; my Aunties and Uncles, her husbands brothers and sisters, and my mums best friend from years ago who we managed to find, my partner who mainly kept my sister company. I held her left hand, while her husband held her right.

It was traumatic, off course, but I would do it again!

So, you can see why this means so much to me!  Pancreatic Cancer is one of the hardest to diagnose...................... They need OUR help!!

So please dig deep and donate now.