Ruth’s Special Day story

Ruth left her job to focus on her children’s health, only to make a discovery of her own.

I left my job in childcare just before Christmas to focus on my children who were having some health problems. We had an amazing Christmas and just days after the girls returned to school I felt a lump.

I went to the doctors the following day – three weeks later I received the devastating news that I had grade 3 triple negative aggressive breast cancer.

All I was worried about was my children. I am a single parent and my children are my world, as I am to them. That very day I got in touch with the girls school to ensure support was put in place for them.

My Dad told me about Willow. I wasn’t sure it was for someone like me – I guess there’s always someone worse off. But I gave them a call and they were amazing, it couldn’t have been easier.

Ruth

I had numerous tests which seemed to last a life time and 2 months later I had a double mastectomy. I was in hospital 8 days – my children had never been apart from me and this was immensely traumatic for them.

Then came 16 rounds of chemotherapy. My girls missed me so much but with the help from my family and amazing friends we got through it.

My Dad told me about Willow. I wasn’t sure it was for someone like me – I guess there’s always someone worse off. But I gave them a call and they were amazing, it couldn’t have been easier.

I knew straight away I wanted to do something with my children and my mum who had been my rock. It’s not just me that had suffered, it affected us all.

We chose to go to Windsor Castle which included an overnight stay. We were all so excited and I tried to remain positive. The trip came just after I finished my treatment – it was something positive and exciting for us to look forward to and a wonderful way to celebrate the end of my chemotherapy. It was so good for us all to get away and enjoy ourselves, each other’s company, without worrying about the next appointment.

Everything was done for us and Willow was amazing. I even took part in a fundraising fashion show at John Lewis recently – that’s something I would never have done before cancer.

The trip with my family gave us quality time together, we have wonderful memories and lovely photos which we will treasure forever.