A DAUGHTER who lost her mum and uncle to the same disease within 12 months of each other is taking part in a challenge to raise funds in their memory.
Sam Kirby, 39, a nurse practitioner, will be taking part in the Brain Tumour Research charity’s 10,000 steps a day august challenge.
Sam’s support of the charity comes following the death of her “bubbly and outgoing” mum, Carol Kendrick, and her paternal uncle, Philip Kendrick, to brain tumours.
Sam’s mother Carol, was a mother of four who owned the Filling Station café in Queens Road, Southend.
She was initially suspected of having suffered a stroke or embolism when she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in January 2019, which has a short prognosis of 12 to 18 months.
She had begun speaking with a lisp and was experiencing a dry mouth and forgetfulness. Shortly after diagnosis, she also started suffering with balance problems and left-sided weakness.
Sam was at work when her mum was brought in for an MRI scan.
She said: “They brought up the scan image and there was an obvious lump in Mum’s head. I just knew it wasn’t right.”
Carol was treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy but sadly passed away in July 2020, aged 58.
Sam said: “We knew she wasn’t going to get better but were hoping for more time. She was so determined to fight that nothing slowed her down.
She added: “My partner and I found out we were pregnant through IVF after having tried naturally for almost 10 years.
“When we got to nine weeks, we found out we were having twins and Mum was getting quite poorly by then so we wanted to tell her.
“It was during lockdown, so we stood in her front garden and held out a scan photo. Mum burst into tears and was beside herself with excitement.”
“She kept talking about all the things she wanted to do with my boys when they arrived and it was heartbreaking because we knew she wouldn’t be around for them.
“I was one day past 20 weeks when Mum died. We were all there when she took her last breath. She never got to meet her grandchildren, losing her crippled the whole family.”
She added: “Mum was the life and soul of the party, bubbly and outgoing. Everyone called her Mum; she was just one of those people you’d go to if you had problems.”
Sam's uncle Philip, from Hemsby in Norfolk, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in July 2021 and died just six days later, aged 68.
The mother of three will be taking part in the challenge with her children in an effort to enjoy the outdoors together.
Sam said: “I had twin boys in October 2020 and I now have a five-month-old daughter, so this challenge will be a great way of getting me back in shape whilst also helping me to give back to charity.”
For more information, or to donate, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sam1688234145482.
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