Dame Deborah James’ mother has said how much public support means to her family in her daughter’s final weeks.
Podcaster and activist James, better known by his social media handle Bowelbabe, died on June 28 at the age of 40 after being diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 35.
In her first interview since her daughter’s death, her mother, Heather James (whose Instagram handle is Bowelgran), spoke about James’ final weeks and the outpouring of love and support the family 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.
“I told her I didn’t know what to do when you left. She said you could go on and enjoy life.
Heather James spoke #BBCB breakfast About Her Daughter – Activist and blogger Dame Deborah James who died of colon cancer https://t.co/AOzfMgxMOi pic.twitter.com/uSYqU0RP1e— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) August 16, 2022
She also launched a clothing range with In The Style and completed her second book, How To Live When You Could Be Dead, due out 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, James revealed he had stopped active treatment and was in end-of-life care with his husband and two children at his parents’ home in Woking, Surrey.
During Dame James’ last days at home, Ms James was her primary caregiver.
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.”
James was honored for his “work hard” to raise awareness of colon cancer, personally gifted by the Duke of Cambridge during a surprise visit to her parents’ 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.”
