Dame Deborah James’ mother has said how much public support means to her family in her daughter’s final weeks.
Dame Deborah, an odcaster and campaigner known for her social media handle Bowelbabe, died on June 28 at the age of 40 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 35.
In her first interview since her daughter’s death, her mother, Heather James (Instagram handle Bowelgran), opened up about Dame Deborah’s last few weeks and the outpouring of love and support the family has received.
In her final months, the host of the BBC podcast You, Me And The Big C has raised almost £7 million for cancer research. After her death, the amount was further increased.
She has also launched a clothing range with In The Style and has completed her second book titled How to Live When You Die, which will be published on August 18th.
James told BBC Breakfast:
Asked if it was helpful, she added: I guess I couldn’t handle it…we were given 3 to 5 days and Deborah lived for 8 weeks.
“Those eight weeks were, in some ways, the best eight weeks we’ve ever spent together as a family. She passed away at the end of it.
“How can I not love what she did in those eight weeks? It helped to know that other people loved her and wanted to help in any way they could.”
In early May, Mrs Deborah announced she had stopped active treatment and was in end-of-life care with her husband and two children at her parents’ home in Woking, Surrey.
Mrs. James was her primary caregiver during the last days of Mrs. Deborah’s home.
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she said: I think my heartache was the most difficult to deal with because I knew as a mother I could do nothing about it.
“We had a great time. I remember lying in bed, probably just a week or so before she died, and she was very sick that night and she said, ‘I miss you.’ I love you,” and I said, “I love you.”
“She said, ‘I don’t regret it,’ and I said, ‘That’s great.’ How many people can say that? But she said she didn’t want to die. , is the saddest part.”
Mrs. Deborah has been honored for her ‘wearing out’ to raise awareness of colon cancer, personally bestowed by the Duke of Cambridge during a surprise visit to her family’s home in May. .
James says of William: And he was like my son-in-law and sat with us. I think he is very nice and the king of the people. ”
Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of Bowel Cancer UK, told BBC Breakfast:
“She’s a phenomenal campaigner and people can come forward and see the impact she’s had there.
“And if thousands of people came forward, the majority of them probably wouldn’t have colon cancer, but for those who did, it would be life-saving.
“I’ve spoken to many colon cancer patients who feel that Deborah has done this for them, giving them the confidence to tell their story.
“You know, she communicated and connected so well that I felt they could go.
“So like ripples in a pond, every little conversation goes on. This is very important because colon cancer is not an easy topic to talk about.”
