Stephanie’s Story

“Steph was a normal teenager, full of life & happiness. Shortly after her 17th Birthday in December 2008 Steph started to feel unwell, she was in tremendous pain in her leg and pelvis, she was sent to hospital for various test. In June 2009 we were told the devastating news that Steph had a tumour on her pelvis, more test found that it was a rare & aggressive teenage bone and soft tissue cancer called Ewings sarcoma.

On 22nd September 2009, the day her nephew was born,in the same hospital Steph started treatment. She endured 12 cycles of very aggressive chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was also done five days a week for six weeks in the middle of the twelve cycles.

In October 2010 Steph finished treatment & was in remission!! She started to live her life again, returning to college & began working.

Steph spent 4 years fundraising & raising awareness of teenage cancers . She was awarded the young achievers award in Hertfordshire in 2011.

During a routine scan in April 2012 we were told her cancer had returned and she was admitted back into hospital, spending 12 weeks bed-ridden due to the pain. She then started chemotherapy again, an even more aggressive course this time. We were all hopeful the chemo would work but were soon told it wasn’t. We were then given the bad news that if Steph had any chance of survival she had to have a major operation to remove her right hip, pelvis and leg. The operation was carried out on Monday 8th October 2012 and was a success, the cancer was gone! She came home on the 29th November 2012. She turned 21 in December 2012 & spent Christmas with her family but was in so much pain that on December 29th 2012 was back in hospital.

On New Years Day 2013 we were told that the cancer was back & Steph’s condition was terminal and she would only have months to live. We were all heartbroken.
Sadly Steph’s condition took a dramatic downturn at the end of April 2013 & she was given days to live.

Steph’s will to live was so strong but devastatingly on May 22nd 2013 she could not fight any longer and peacefully passed away with family all around her.”