Sharri’s story: Told with love by her children; Kimble, Angel & Courtney

I remember teasing Mum because she’d started gaining a bit of weight around her middle and had been complaining of strained tummy muscles, Mum assumed it was from overdoing it in the garden. Mum was diagnosed on the 9th May 2003, the day that our lives changed forever.  From that date we never took a minute with her for granted. What a terrible wake up call. We’d never even heard of “ovarian cancer”, those were the only symptoms Mum had and like so many other women the cancer had spread by the time they found it.

Mum endured a radical hysterectomy and 6 chemo treatments. The cancer went away for 18 months, but then it came back.  In all, our beautiful Mum had 4 years and 9 months of living with this terrible disease; she bravely fought it every step of the way.  The worst day of our lives became; February 11 2008.  The strength that our Mum displayed throughout her entire ordeal is an absolute inspiration to her family and friends.  To us she was, and will always be the bravest woman in the universe…. “Don’t sweat the small stuff” was Mum’s advice, after cancer has touched your life, you seem to get a better perspective on any other little problems that arise.