Wigan mum with terminal cancer diagnosis 'overwhelmed' by crowd-funder support

Liz was given the devastating news last month that she had secondary lung cancer and it could not be cured or treated.

She was admitted to hospital after coughing up blood and was told that cancer which remained in her body from when she had a hysterectomy in 2017 had spread into her lungs.

Following the initial shock of the bombshell news Liz is now trying to spend as much quality time as she can with her two teenage sons Jack and George and other members of her family.

To help her Philippa Adeleke, who is the cousin of Liz’s niece Clare Mills, has created a fund-raising page online for friends, relations and wellwishers to contribute to making those special memories.

And Liz, 48, has been astonished by the outpouring of generosity, with dozens of people making donations and the total hovering close to the £1,000 target on Tuesday afternoon.

She said: “It’s just so overwhelming to realise how many friends I’ve got. I just can’t believe it at all. What people have done and are doing is amazing.

“I’m just so grateful to each and every person. I never expected this.”

Liz spoke about the nightmare ordeal of being given the terminal diagnosis, made all the worse as she was initially alone in hospital due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She is now being treated at Wythenshawe Hospital where a recent attempt to fit a stent was unsuccessful.

However, she said she is keeping as upbeat as she can and outlined her plans for what she wants to do now in the wake of receiving the news.

Liz, who worked as a carer before her illness, said: “It was quite a shock. With Covid going on I was on my own at Wigan Infirmary. They did let my sister and niece come in. Everyone at the hospital has been brilliant, I can’t fault them at all.

“I’m positive and fine in myself. When anything happens I am leaving two sons behind and I’m having counselling for that. But I’m staying strong and fighting.

“I’m going out when I can, when I’m feeling well. I have my good days and my bad days.

“I’m writing out a bit of a bucket list. I want to take my children to Blackpool and take the boys for a picnic at Pennington Flash. I also want to treat myself to a spa day. There will be plenty of things.

“I’m making memories with my children and family, taking pictures they can look back on and remember everything we’ve done. That’s the main thing for me.”

Liz lives with her mum and dad Marjorie and Robert Mills and admitted that for her parents their daughter’s health battle has been particularly hard to come to terms with.

She said: “They’ve been brilliant but it’s really hard for them. They’re both struggling. I’m the youngest of all my siblings so my mum still thinks of me as her baby. It came as such a shock.”

As well as her parents Liz is being supported through her cancer ordeal by her three brothers John, Michael and Alan and her sister Christine.

Philippa said Liz has supported and helped other people for much of her life and she therefore thought it was appropriate that in her time of need she should receive some care in return.

She said: “Liz always seems to be there for everybody. She’s really bubbly and fun.

“She’s been posting on Facebook and had lots of good wishes and people thinking about her. It’s heartbreaking putting yourself in her position reading her words and thinking about what will happen to the children.

“Last week there were messages saying she couldn’t sleep and was worried and upset about her boys. I suggested making a bucket list and she said she would try.

“Hopefully we can get some of the items ticked off.

“We had a few hundred pounds donated within 24 hours. She must be a really good friend to people to get this response.”

To find out more or donate visit www.gofundme.com/f/funds-for-liz039s-bucket-list