Dame Deborah James’ mother recalls heartbreaking moment her daughter told her ‘I can’t do this anymore’ before she died from bowel cancer
- Dame Deborah James’ mother opened up about her daughter’s last few months
- Heather, 65, has told Stand Up To Cancer video of Deborah’s final moments
- She candidly revealed her daughter earlier in 2022 said she ‘can’t do it anymore’
Heather James has recalled the moment her daughter, Dame Deborah, told her she was unable to go on when her helath dramatically deteriorated earlier this year.
The broadcaster and former headteacher, known as Bowel Babe, died at the age of 40 in June, five years after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer when she found blood in her stool.
In a video for Stand Up to Cancer, Dame Deborah’s mother Heather – also dubbed ‘Bowel Gran’ – spoke of how her daughter struggled in hospital for the first few months of 2022 after suffering a severe haemorrhage in January.
She revealed it was the first time Deborah – who raised £7 million for Cancer Research UK – had admitted she did not have the will to continue with treatment.
Heather James has recalled the moment her daughter, Dame Deborah, told her she was unable to go on as her health deteriorated due to her bowel cancer diagnosis
In a video for Stand Up to Cancer, Dame Deborah’s mother Heather – also dubbed ‘Bowel Gran’ – spoke of how her daughter struggled in hospital for the first few months of 2022. Both pictured in January
‘From then on, Deborah basically lived in The Royal Marsden and slowly deteriorated and I can remember her saying one day “I can’t do this anymore”,’ Heather, 65, revealed. ‘And that’s the first time she’d ever said [that].’
Deborah’s mother also opened up about her daughter’s moving last few months after the inspirational broadcaster left the hospital in May 2022 to be with her family.
‘I can remember her saying ‘I’m coming home to die but I don’t want to die’,’ she recalled emotionally. ‘And I went, “I know you don’t want to die darling'”.’
Heather described the last couple of month’s of Deborah’s life as both the ‘best eight weeks as a family’, as well as ‘the saddest one could ever, ever go through’.
Deborah’s mother also opened up about her daughter’s moving last few months after the inspirational broadcaster left the hospital in May 2022 to be with her family. Pictured in January
Deborah, who hosted podcast You, Me and the Big C, passed away this summer after first being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 at 35. Pictured in January
Candidly recounting the moment she passed away, Heather said her daughter’s ‘breathing changed’ as a hospice nurse confirmed she ‘was dying’.
‘And we were just so grateful we were all there at that last moment,’ her mother said. ‘She was a force of nature. she was always lively, enthusiastic, such a zest for life.’
Sharing the clip on her Instagram, Heather wrote: ‘I was privileged to take part in the making of this short film about Deborah’s life to support @su2cuk.
It is the 10th anniversary of this charity which was close to Deborah’s heart.’
Deborah, who hosted podcast You, Me and the Big C, passed away this summer after first being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 at 35.
Heather told the Stand Up to Cancer clip how proud she was of her daughter’s Bowel Babe identity.
Heather told the Stand Up to Cancer clip how proud she was of her daughter’s Bowel Babe identity. Deborah pictured in June
‘She wanted to be a babe, she could hide behind it, and I’m very proud of that point, that she put to the side her pain and she would be there 24/7 for anybody that needed her,’ she said.
It comes as last month, Deborah’s husband express his pride for his late wife after she inspired record numbers of people to get tested for bowel cancer.
Sebastian Bowen said he was ‘in awe of everything [Deborah] did’ after she spent five years tirelessly campaigning to raise awareness of bowel cancer following her own diagnosis.
Recent NHS figures revealed a record 30,000 more people went for referrals between May and July in 2021. Figures also showed 170,500 people were referred for checks for suspected lower gastro-intestinal cancers between the months of May and July, which is nearly 80,000 higher than the same period two years ago.
It comes as last month, Deborah’s husband express his pride for his late wife after she inspired record numbers of people to get tested for bowel cancer. Both pictured in May
Speaking to The Sun, the late campaigner’s husband said: ‘I’m so proud of her. I’m in awe of everything she did to raise awareness, and the legacy she has left behind.’
After her diagnosis, the former headteacher became a co-host of the BBC’s You, Me and The Big C podcast, and used her social media platforms to educate people about the symptoms of bowel cancer under her nickname, The Bowel Babe.
This year, the family accepted an honorary degree on Dame Deborah’s behalf from the Institute of Cancer Research.
They were accompanied by Dame Deborah’s You, Me & The Big C co-hosts, Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland, who also received degrees for their outstanding contribution to raising awareness of living with cancer.
Posting photos of the graduation ceremony on Instagram, Heather wrote: ‘Today was a bittersweet day.
‘Deborah and her colleagues Lauren and Steve from You, Me & The Big C were awarded honorary degrees by The Institute of Cancer Research for their outstanding contributions to raising awareness of living with cancer and the importance of cancer research.
‘We were proud to accept the award on Deborah’s behalf in the most beautiful setting of the Guild Hall [sic] City of London.’
Source: Read Full Article
