May 28th 2024.
It's been a few years now, but I still remember that day like it was yesterday. The day my world changed forever, the day I lost my precious daughter, Natalie. It was November 11th, 2022. I was by her side in the hospital when she passed away from melanoma, a type of skin cancer. She was only 28 years old. My heart shattered into a million pieces, and even now, it still feels broken. But amidst all the pain and grief, I am determined to fulfill Natalie's final wish - to always remember and honor her memory.
Natalie was an incredible daughter, full of life and joy. She had a contagious cheerfulness and a great sense of humor. She was not just a daughter, but also a wonderful sister to her brother Nick. They shared a special bond that was unbreakable. Natalie was also a remarkable friend and an outstanding teacher. Her students adored her, but her kindness and positive influence extended to everyone she met.
She was a generous soul, always willing to lend a helping hand, not just with money or fundraising, but also with her time and love. She took part in various charity challenges, including a skydive, the Three Peaks Challenge, and a half marathon. Natalie's selflessness and compassion touched the lives of many.
I still remember the day she told me about a mole on her leg that started bleeding in July 2018. We were about to leave for a week-long holiday in France, but I insisted we get it checked before we go. The next morning, I managed to get her a GP appointment. The doctor examined the mole, and I tried my best to reassure Natalie that everything would be okay.
But while we were away in France, we received a phone call informing us that Natalie needed further tests when we returned home. By the end of August, she had the mole removed, and it was sent for testing. A few weeks later, we were called back to the hospital to discuss the results. It was then that we received the devastating news - it was melanoma, and it had spread to other parts of her body.
Natalie was only 24 years old at the time. She had never used a sunbed or burnt herself, but she had been on holidays abroad where she was exposed to the sun. Understandably, she was scared and worried about what the future held, but she remained determined to stay strong. She underwent surgery to remove the remaining cancer cells and was closely monitored with regular scans.
For a while, things seemed to be looking up. Natalie's scans came back clear, and life went on as normal. But in December 2019, a scan showed a new lesion in her lung. We were heartbroken, but Natalie once again showed her resilience and strength. She underwent radiotherapy, and the lesion significantly shrank. It was a glimmer of hope that the treatment was working.
Natalie continued to have regular monitoring scans, and for a year, everything seemed to be fine. But then, the cancer returned a third time, and her only option was immunotherapy. Unlike chemotherapy, which uses drugs to target and kill fast-growing cells, immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. Natalie began treatment and never once complained. She even went back to work and participated in The Banham Marsden March with me, a 15-mile walk to raise funds for cancer research.
But unfortunately, the cancer was relentless, and in September 2022, new lesions were detected on her brain and liver. Natalie's health began to deteriorate rapidly, and she was admitted to the critical care unit. Despite the doctors' best efforts, they couldn't save her. Natalie showed incredible bravery, accepting her fate and never shedding a tear or showing any anger.
Her friends and I will never forget her contagious smile, her witty humor, and her kind heart. We continue to honor her memory, and every year, we participate in The Banham Marsden March in her honor. Natalie's life may have been cut short, but her spirit and impact on others will live on forever.
It was a day that will forever be etched in my memory. The day that changed my life in ways I could never have imagined. The day that I lost my beloved daughter, Natalie.
It was November 11th, 2022. I was by her side in the hospital, holding her hand as she passed away from melanoma. She was only 28 years old. My heart shattered into a million pieces, and it still aches to this day. But amidst the pain and grief, I am determined to fulfill Natalie's final wish - that she will always be remembered.
Natalie was a remarkable daughter. She had a contagious joy and a witty sense of humor that could light up any room. She had a special bond with her brother Nick, and their love for each other was evident to all. Natalie was not only a loving daughter and sister, but she was also an exceptional friend and an outstanding teacher. Her students adored her, and she left a lasting impact on everyone she crossed paths with.
Above all, Natalie was a kind soul. She was always ready to lend a helping hand, whether it was through charity challenges like skydiving, the Three Peaks Challenge, or running a half marathon. She was not only generous with her money and fundraising efforts, but also with her time and love.
I remember the moment when Natalie first told me about the mole on her leg that had started bleeding in July 2018. We were about to leave for a week-long holiday in France, but I insisted on getting it checked before we left. The doctor examined it, and I tried my best to reassure Natalie that everything would be okay.
Unfortunately, our holiday was interrupted by a phone call informing us that Natalie needed further investigations upon our return. By the end of August, the mole was removed and sent for testing. A few weeks later, we were told the devastating news - it was melanoma, a type of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. My world came crashing down.
Natalie was only 24 years old, and she had never used a sunbed or gotten a sunburn. She loved going on holidays abroad, but she never thought it would lead to this. Understandably, she was terrified of the word 'cancer' and what the future held. But she was determined to stay strong.
She underwent surgery to remove any remaining cancer cells, and the doctors closely monitored her with regular scans. For a while, the scans showed no signs of cancer, and life went on as normal. But in December 2019, a new lesion was discovered in her lung.
I remember the feeling of relief when the radiotherapy she received shrunk the lesion significantly. We were overjoyed, and it seemed like everything was going in the right direction. However, a year later, a new lung lesion was detected, and this time, she received targeted therapy in the form of a daily tablet.
For 18 months, things were once again looking up, and there were no signs of cancer on her scans. But then, the cancer came back for a third time. This time, immunotherapy was her only option. Unlike chemotherapy, which targets and kills fast-growing cells, immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancerous cells. Natalie was a true warrior, never once complaining and even returning to work.
We participated in The Banham Marsden March in May 2022, walking 15 miles together and raising over £2,000. It was a moment I will cherish forever, crossing the finish line with my daughter by my side. Natalie promised to do it every year.
However, just as she started her immunotherapy treatment in September, new lesions were discovered on her brain and liver. The cancer was spreading rapidly, and Natalie's health began to deteriorate. We rushed her to the critical care unit, where the doctors managed to stabilize her. But after a few days, they delivered the heartbreaking news that they couldn't make her better.
Natalie was incredibly brave, accepting her fate without a single complaint or tear. Her friends gathered around her, commemorating her with signs and pictures. She left this world on November 11th, 2022, just four years after her diagnosis.
As a mother, I never thought I would have to face the loss of my child. But I am grateful for every moment I had with Natalie and for the strength and courage she showed until the very end. I hope that by sharing our story, we can raise awareness and encourage others to check their moles regularly. Dr. Sagar Patel, a dermatology specialist, shares his advice on checking for skin cancer, and I urge everyone to take it seriously. Let's honor Natalie's memory by spreading the word and preventing this devastating disease from taking more lives.
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