A young mum has opened up about her heartbreaking battle to find somewhere to live while fighting an aggressive form of cancer.
Delilah May, 27, had been experiencing bloating and pain in March 2021, which was refusing to go away.
The mum-of-one, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, initially put this down to an IBS flare-up, however she began to feel considerably worse and after finding it difficult to play with her young tot Jake, three, she took herself to the hospital.
Although it took a while for Delilah to be diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, she began treatment straight away, Lancs Live reports.
Delilah said: "I've had bloating throughout my whole adult life so I thought it was just IBS or something but it would not go away. Then I was getting pains in my back and sharp pains in my abdomen which was stopping me from being a mum.
"I couldn't go on the floor and play with my son and do things with him. Then one day at work my boss asked if I was okay and I just burst out crying and he sent me home and I went to see a doctor. I was in tears and begging for help and just sent me home with painkillers."
Due to shock diagnosis and for the sake of her son, she wanted to move away from Skelmersdale and be closer to her family that live around the Ormskirk and Burscough areas of West Lancashire.
But this has proven harder than it would first appear, with Delilah running into issues in getting tenancy while her illness advances.
Christina May, Delilah's mum, said: "Family knew that she would need to be closer to them when she was having flare-ups and would also need someone to care for her and someone looking after Jake.
"She has a lovely house in Skelmersdale with a good landlord and neighbours but all of her family live near Jake's nursery, which is off Grimshaw Road and in Burscough.
"Fiercely independent, Delilah didn't want to move in with me, so it was decided we would look for somewhere nearby and offer six months of rent in advance but we had no landlords accept her."
When Delilah was first diagnosed last year, medical professionals initially did not think she had cancer due to her age. But once it was detected, the cancer had already spread throughout her abdomen.
Christina said: "They were unable to work out where the cancer had originated from so couldn't figure out what to treat her for. An operation was performed to save her life and chemo was started urgently. This gave her her life back and she was able to live her life for most of the time as the dedicated, fun and busy mum that she always wanted to be."
Still looking for somewhere closer to live and two months after her shock diagnosis, Christina found a new home in the area that the family thought could be perfect for Delilah. It had two spare rooms, meaning carers could stay over when needed.
Thinking they had found the perfect property, Delilah applied with the offer of six months of rent to be paid in advance. But attempts to secure a property have fallen on deaf ears since November last year.
One email states that one prospective landlord was 'looking for a tenant who is in full-time employment'. Delilah's situation sees her work part-time at the The Ship Inn at Haskayne as well as receive disability benefits due to her severe illness.
Mum Christina said: "Delilah applied with the advancement in the rent on top of her deposit, as an assurance that she was a tenant who could afford the home and would take care of it.
"As Delilah was unable to work while recovering from her operation, she was on disability benefits. Sadly we were emailed to say that the landlord did not want her as a tenant because she was not working full-time."
The family claims those letting properties they have spoken to are "not interested in hearing from her employers at The Ship Inn".
The Ship Inn at Haskayne, near Ormskirk, is hosting a fundraiser on June 25 to raise money for Delilah to "make memories with her son".
The pub will be hosting a ticketed live music event, starting at 3pm with a disco and various games. There will also be hot food available and the opportunity to raise as much money as possible for Delilah and her family, with all funds going directly to them.
Delilah said: "That pub treats you like family and I just have absolutely no words for what they've decided to do for me. They are giving me the chance to make memories with my son and I think it's great and it's overwhelming that people want to donate."
Tickets for the event are priced at £10 and more information will be posted onto The Ship Inn's Facebook page.
Alongside a photo of Delilah and her son Jake, a pub spokesperson posted: "This is our beautiful Delilah May and her little boy Jake. A valued and much loved member of the Ship family and a devoted mother. Tragically recently Delilah fell ill and was given the news no young woman should ever hear.
"She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Delilah is as brave as a lion and is battling with all she has for the sake of her son.
"And so on Saturday 25th of June we will be having a fundraising day at The Ship reflecting Dees love of Music with Live music starting at 3pm and disco all day/night, raffles, play your cards right, hot food and other stuff going on to raise as much money as we can to help our beloved Dee. musicians already supporting and confirmed are Scallywag.
"This will be a ticketed event with tickets being £10 pp every penny raised on the day will go directly to Delilah and her boy to maybe help them make some precious memories. Details on how to buy your tickets will be announced very soon. Thank you in advance for your support."
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