What we would give for “just one more.” One more hug. One more laugh. One more walk. One more chat. One more time to hold her hand. One more time to hear her voice. One more meal together. One last dance in the kitchen. One last dance on the balcony. One more clinking of glasses. One more adventure. One more cup of tea. One more “what do you think of this?.” One more “I've been thinking.” One more “I love you pet.” One more “Bye..bye...ba-bye..ba-bye..ba-bye..bye love, love you.”

A post from Marie in 2021 Dip in the Nip!!! In the Irish Sea!! Sound tempting???? I have decided to do this in support of Arc Cancer Support Centres. I was diagnosed nearly three years ago with Stage 3c Ovarian Cancer. Arc House was such a support in the first year of my diagnosis. The services are free of charge and it is such a welcoming place. I will be setting up a fundraising page for this. This body has endured sepsis, major abdominal surgery, numerous rounds of chemo and targeted therapy but I’m still here!! Surely a little naked dip in the freezing Irish Sea is not too much to ask of it 😀

A post from October 2019 We are at the halfway mark of #frocktober! And your support so far has been especially uplifting. Today, I would like to introduce you to an exceptional woman. Most of you won’t need an introduction because you already know, love and adore her. Please meet my beautiful Mum, Marie. She was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in July 2018. She had just celebrated her 60th birthday and retired. There is no history of ovarian cancer in our family and it’s not the result of a BRCA gene mutation. So how was this happening? How was this fair? Especially to someone so vibrant, fit and healthy. She had worked so hard and raised four kids and was about to embark on her next adventure in life. Today’s post is written with my Mum’s permission with the goal of raising ovarian cancer awareness and to show you how deceptive this disease can be. The first photograph is my Mum all frocked up and looking incredibly glamorous at her 60th birthday party. Just 3 months later she was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. The second set of photographs were taken in the last couple of weeks. This is what ovarian cancer can look like. Doesn’t quite paint the picture you think of does it? Receiving the news that your Mum, your best friend, has been diagnosed with a cancer that you know very little about (despite being a registered nurse) feels like the world is closing in around you. What do you do? You get that dreaded phone call. You cry your absolute heart out. You scream at the top of your lungs. You stay awake all night. You pack your bags. You get on a one way flight. And your husband holds your hand as you travel the gut wrenching 24 hour journey to get to her. You stare into your own daughter’s eyes, who is only four months old and you can’t comprehend how life can be so cruel. You finally get there and you hold her so tight. You cry some more. You tell her how much you love her. How you wish that you could just take it all away. But you can’t. So you promise each other not to fall apart but to stay strong together and fight. My Mum is the most generous, genuine, empathetic, compassionate, funny, witty, gentle, intelligent, kind and giving soul I have ever met. She can make you laugh through your tears. She is always there to listen. She bakes the best bread, hands down. She sings along to Lady Gaga’s 'born this way' in the car and absolutely owns it. She has always put everyone else first. She gives the best hugs. She gets daily phone calls from me. I don’t jump on google. She gets questions like how long chicken will be ok in the fridge or when will my baby sleep through the night. She loves to read. She knows the most random facts. She would absolutely kick ass at a trivia night. 😂 I have shared so many adventures with my Mum and we have so many precious memories. She is the most loving, affectionate and caring mother. A loyal, considerate and devoted wife. A dependable, lovable and reliable friend. A selfless and supportive sister, aunt, and daughter. She is the proudest Nana and absolutely adores her grandchildren. And it has absolutely changed life as we know it to see her go through treatment. She has gone through gruelling rounds of weekly chemotherapy; has been hospitalised with sepsis; lost her hair; has spent weeks in bed; undergone major abdominal (debulking) surgery; watched the new year ring in from a hospital bed; had an ICU stay; was rehospitalised for postoperative complications; is on long-term daily antibiotics (as surgery left her without a spleen); endured months of daily blood thinning injections (self-administered) due to a post-operative portal vein clot.....the list goes on and on... ...and I haven’t included the day to day side effects of chemotherapy and all of the results of major surgery on her poor body. But she’s fought. And is so f'ing resilient. She’s so positive. So strong. She beams that massive smile despite how rough she may be feeling. She has rocked a shaved head (she was even smiling bravely as her head was first shaved), has worn bright and cheerful headscarves and accessorised them by blinging them up with brooches, she has poked fun at herself in a wig and decided to go without, she has worn bold colours, and even put on her make-up and lippy to go and get her treatment. She’s a frocking frock star. And cancer doesn’t define her. She’s the biggest reason why I’m frocking up this month and why I am trying my utmost to get ovarian cancer awareness out there. She’s shown me to not sweat the small stuff. To embrace each day. To love without limits. And I never want you to have to feel how I feel. To see a loved one go through this. I’d describe it as a living nightmare. Because you would do anything to take it all away. But you can’t. So you lay in the bed beside her, reminisce and belly laugh. You drink copious amounts of tea and hold hands. And you fight for early detection and more treatment options. Squeeze your loved ones that bit tighter today, embrace your body and remember to smile. @ocrf #frocktober #frocktober2019 #frockup #frockingout #frockedup #ovariancancer #ovariancancerawareness #ovariancancerresearch #cancerawareness #amotherslove #tealwarrior #ovariancancerresearchfoundation Link to my #frocktober fundraising page is in my bio to make a donation ♥️