Mum with terminal cancer creates GoFundMe page to make memories with her family
Sally Ashmore of Thetford who has terminal cancer, is surrounded by her family. Sally is planning a wedding to her partner Neil Bragger, and trips with their children on her bucket list. From left the children are, Madison Bragger, 14; Oliver Ashmore, 11; and Connie Bragger, 16. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2019
“It was like the air was sucked out of the room when they said ‘we have done everything we can’. Although they didn’t say the word ‘terminal’ I knew what that meant.”
Sally Ashmore of Thetford who has terminal cancer, is surrounded by her family. Sally is planning a wedding to her partner Neil Bragger, and trips with their children on her bucket list. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2019
That was the moment when Sally Ashmore, of Oak Close, Thetford, was given the devastating news that her cancer had spread and that she should go home to be with her family.
On Tuesday, September 3, despite having four rounds of chemotherapy, and 25 sessions of radiotherapy, the mum-of-three was informed that her bowel cancer had spread to her lungs.
Originally diagnosed in February of this year and told it was a 'curable outcome', Ms Ashmore and her partner, Neil Bragger, could not have prepared themselves when they were told that she may only live for another two to three years.
Ms Ashmore said: "At 39 I was diagnosed with cancer and at 40 I was told I'm going to die very soon from it.
Sally Ashmore of Thetford who has terminal cancer, is surrounded by her family. Sally is planning a wedding to her partner Neil Bragger, and trips with their children on her bucket list. From left the children are, Madison Bragger, 14; Oliver Ashmore, 11; and Connie Bragger, 16. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY - Credit: Copyright: Archant 2019
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"For the first week we were just crying at everything. The kids had an eye test and my youngest wears glasses, and he was picking some out and I just stood there thinking I'm not going to be here for the next one.
"It's the little things like that, when you're told your time is up. I can talk about dying but I just find it difficult to talk about my kids."
But determined to make the most of whatever time she has left, Ms Ashmore has set up a GoFundMe page to help her to complete her bucket list, so she can make happy memories with her children, Connie, 16, Madison, 13, and Oliver, 11, and finally marry her partner, Mr Bragger, who she has been with for 18 years.
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"I know I have only got as few years left, but I can't see it like that, for me it's the next big adventure," said Ms Ashmore.
"I'm just lucky that I have two years when some people are only given weeks or months. You don't know how strong you can be until being strong is the only thing you have left. I have cancer but it has not got me just yet. I will keep on fighting."
To donate visit www.gofundme.com/f/vguysv-memories-fund
