The mum of Amelia Grace has shared her overwhelming grief, just over a year on from the 24-year-old's death.
Amelia, from Norris Green, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in December 2020. She went to the doctors with her partner in January 2020, to undergo fertility checks in the hope of starting a family together.
After a series of scans the results found fluid on her fallopian tubes which she was told she needed keyhole surgery to remove at Liverpool Women's Hospital. However, the surgery was put on hold at the start of the national lockdown in March 2020.
READ MORE: Terrifying video shows ten people sliding on icy Sefton Park lake
During this time the then 23-year-old started experiencing severe stomach pains and went to see her GP. She was referred to Broadgreen Hospital for a scan and the results found she had cysts on her ovaries including endometrial cysts.
But it wasn't until she had keyhole surgery on December 2, 2020 that doctors discovered she had cancer after taking a biopsy. On December 23, 2020 at Aintree Hospital, Amelia was told the devastating news that she had stage four bowel cancer which has also spread to her liver.
Despite undergoing chemotherapy, Amelia died on October 20 2021. Just over a year on, her mum Therese has said she "still doesn't believe" Amelia is gone.
She told the ECHO: "It's like the front of my brain knows that it's happened, but the inside doesn't. I still don't believe my daughter is gone, it's too much to bear. When I sit and think this has actually happened for too long, it becomes too much."
Therese said she won't be celebrating Christmas this year, opting instead to help out with those who need support, rather than sit at home.
Care worker Therese is determined to help raise awareness of bowel cancer in young people, and aims to set up a charity to reach out to younger people- continuing Amelia's legacy, as this was something very important to her.
Prior to her death, Amelia told the ECHO: "I don't think people realise what people can go through. I never imagined me getting bowel cancer at 23. The amount of people I've had messaging me since I put my story on Facebook asking about symptoms they've had.
"You don't realise how many young girls are going through stuff, I think a lot of us just put it down to girl problems."
Therese added: "I think Amelia's death was avoidable, she had the symptoms and went to the doctors but lockdowns made it more difficult. People kept saying she was too young to have cancer, but there's no such thing as too young."
Therese is keen for any businesses or charities to help her set up her awareness campaign, whether that is through funding or advice on engaging with young people. You can contact her on tessg72@outlook.com or on Facebook here.
The NHS said symptoms of bowel cancer include one of the following in 90% of cases:
- a persistent change in bowel habit – pooing more often, with looser, runnier poos and sometimes tummy (abdominal) pain
- blood in the poo without other symptoms of piles (haemorrhoids) – this makes it unlikely the cause is haemorrhoids
- abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating – sometimes resulting in a reduction in the amount of food eaten and weight loss
For more information visit the NHS website here.
READ NEXT
EncroChat thug 'Stealthy' boasted of 'mint wages' from heroin and guns trade
West Derby bistro in running for North West's best takeaway
Mercedes van sealed off after being found on fire in road
Burglar who targeted Raheem Sterling's mansion has home taken away
