A mum-of-three has spoken of her heartbreak after losing her father months after her mother's own devastating cancer diagnosis.
Gemma Pana's mum, Sandra Navin was diagnosed with terminal cancer in March last year, leaving her husband Graham, and the couple's four children, in pieces.
Graham planned a getaway to Spain for his wife last September, along with Gemma's sister Kelly, so the family could enjoy one final holiday together before her condition deteriorated.
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But tragically, whilst on that trip, Graham was found unresponsive after taking a nap in the family's apartment, and later died. The family understand he suffered a fatal heart attack.
Gemma and her siblings rallied around their mum, but their lives were shattered again last week when Sandra succumbed to her illness, after the cancer spread to her blood.
Speaking to the M.E.N, Gemma, from Salford, spoke of her trauma as she urged other family's to appreciate the precious time they have with each other.
"They were great parents," Gemma said. "They lived in Bacup in Lancashire but I moved to Salford with my husband and kids. Even so, I visited them every weekend.
"My mum was diagnosed with cancer last March. It started with endometrial cancer but then it spread to her bones and lymph nodes. She had chemotherapy but then it spread to her blood and the treatment wasn't working anymore.
"She was only 58 when she was diagnosed. She'd never had any health issues before this. She never smoked a cigarette in her life and didn't drink either."
Gemma said that following the news of her mum's diagnosis, her father, Graham, who was 10 years older, struggled to cope with the idea of his wife passing away before him.
"We told him to stay positive but his heart was just broken," she said. "He never had any health issues apart from diabetes."
In September last year, Gemma's sister Kelly, and her partner, drove to Salou in Spain with Sandra and Graham, so they could enjoy one last trip abroad together.
"On September 5 my dad went for a nap and he just didn't wake up," Gemma recalled. "My sister called me at 9pm to tell me something had happened. I just assumed it was my mum.
"When she said it was my dad it was a massive shock. I stood up and fell to the floor. I just remember feeling a big pain in my heart.
"Myself and my brother flew out the next morning. My mum was being so strong. When we got to Spain we had a bit of a cry but she said we had to keep our heads up. We had to keep going for our mum's sake."
Sadly, over the last few months, Sandra's condition continued to deteriorate, and she passed away at home surrounded by family on Good Friday (April 7).
Before then, she was able to enjoy some final memories with her children and grandchildren, and even got to tick off her bucket-list wish of riding in a helicopter.
"My sister took my mum to Wales in a campervan and I booked a room at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester and we just pigged out," Gemma said. "I also took her on a helicopter at Barton as she'd always wanted to go on one.
"As sad as it is, she is with my dad now and she isn't in anymore pain. I am grateful that we got the last 12 months because we got to do so much with her.
"I just want people to remember you only get one set of parents in life and you have to appreciate everything they have done and give it back when you can.
"As a family I am so proud of how strong everyone has been. It shows if you stick together you really can get through anything."
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