Henrietta’s safari break
Henrietta, 37, from Epsom had a joyful time on her Special Break with her husband and two sons at the West Midlands Safari Park. It was time that allowed them to feel like a normal family again, relaxing and enjoying watching the animals.
“It made us feel so cared for and loved.”
Henrietta’s story
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 37. I am married with two young sons (currently aged nine and seven) and am a trained primary school teacher who is very involved in the local community.
“The diagnosis was a shock for us all as I have always been very healthy and we don’t have any family history of cancer.
“We felt the rug had been pulled out from beneath our feet and the worst part was explaining the situation to my young sons. Unfortunately my tumour had spread so I had to have a full mastectomy followed by six months on chemotherapy and then endocrine therapy.
“I have lost a lot of confidence over the last year. The chemo and endocrine therapy have had a big impact on my day to day life. During chemotherapy I was immunocompromised, so it was difficult to get out and do things together as a family.
“Our life was dictated by appointments and treatment. I was unable to do the usual ‘mummy stuff’ I had been used to doing. Even taking the boys to the playground became tricky. Our lives became very small and very medical. I had my last chemotherapy in October 2025 but I still get very tired and have side effects that have an impact on me.”
“There were so many bonding memories, laughs and awesome moments.”
“Our Special Day was amazing. It made us feel so cared for and loved. From the email check ins beforehand to make sure we knew where we were going to the delivery of colouring in and activity books for the boys, all the little details made us feel so special.
“Knowing that it had all been taken care of helped us relax and enjoy the amazing opportunity. We were able to just enjoy our time together and celebrate the achievement of getting through our toughest moments over the last year.
“For me personally, having the Special Day gave me permission to acknowledge how hard diagnosis and treatment have been. That someone believed we deserved such an incredible experience made me realise what we had been through was really tough and the Special Day felt like a pat on the back for persevering in our lives.
“The highlight was the cheetah lodge. Seeing the cheetahs up close and having supper and breakfast with them walking right past us was incredible. Needless to say cheetahs are now our whole family’s favourite animal! My boys can’t wait to go to school and tell their friends they had a sleepover with cheetahs. The lodge was beautiful and the food was delicious too.
“There were so many bonding memories, laughs and awesome moments. We saw a baby giraffe galloping right past us which makes us laugh every time we remember it. Snuggles on the bed watching the cheetahs pace up and down was so incredible. We went to the theme park on the second day and I managed to go on one of the gentler rides. My youngest son said “Mummy, I am so happy you are feeling well enough to come on the rides!”
Willow provides special experiences for seriously ill young adults, like Henrietta. Donate today to help more families create lasting memories.