Laura Dawson, a 44-year-old mother of two from London, thought her bloating and fatigue were due to perimenopause. Months later, she was rushed to A&E with severe abdominal pain, where surgery revealed stage three bowel cancer.

Her husband, Ben, shared that she went through six months of chemotherapy. A clear scan in August gave hope, but by September the cancer had returned and spread. Despite further treatment, Laura grew weaker and decided to stop therapy two months before her passing, choosing instead to spend time with her loved ones.

St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham helped care for her in her final weeks. Ben praised the staff, saying their compassion gave Laura “dignity and comfort” at the end of her life.

On June 29, Laura passed away peacefully with her husband at her side. She spoke openly about accepting death, reminding others not to fear it. “Some of the happiest days of my life have been in the last few weeks,” she said.

Her final message was one of gratitude and peace: “Cancer forced me to acknowledge death, but it also made me live more fully than ever before.”