A teen who died from cancer left a touching message and uged people to live for the moment because "life is too short." Newcastle University student, Lulu Blundell, died aged 19 on New Year's Day this year.
But before she passed away, Lulu left a heartfelt message that has been recited into a film about her life, reports Chronicle Live. Tragically Lulu had been told she was cancer-free after being diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare cancer that affects the bones, at the aged of 15.
The brave teen had suffered eight months of intense chemotherapy, 24 hours a day, for seven days every fortnight, as well as having her leg amputated and was eventually cleared of the disease. But last April she felt a pain in her shoulder, which was initially dismissed as a sporting injury.
However, her consultant arranged a CT scan, and Lulu received the devastating news that she had tumours in her shoulder, ribs, and chest, and that her cancer was now terminal. She decided not to undergo further chemotherapy and instead began planning how she would spend her final days, and went to the Teenage Cancer Trust team at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital for palliative support.
Her mum Carolyn Blundell, said: "Lulu's specialists said that further chemo could buy her a little bit more time but that's not what she wanted - she said she didn't want to spend any of the time that she had left in a hospital bed. She had a lust for life, for people, and a spontaneity that was infectious - if she wanted to do something, she did it."
In the months she had left, Lulu went to Magaluf, Amsterdam, and trips to London, Northumberland and Manchester, and even managed to get along to the Glastonbury Festival.
Carolyn said: "Danielle, her Teenage Cancer Trust Nurse, and NHS staff working at the charity’s units in Newcastle and Sheffield, went above and beyond to make sure she could do the things she wanted in the time she had left– like go to Glastonbury. Things that might seem simple but take a lot of planning when somebody is very unwell.
"She went to the festival with her friends on a ton of pain relief – it was all arranged so that she could store and take it in the first aid tent. Had she become really unwell she wouldn’t have had to go to A&E, a named contact at the local hospital had been briefed about her whole history and was on hand if needed."
Lulu's determination in those final months inspired many people, with some even choosing to adopt the mantra 'Living like Lulu'. Her inspiring words, written before she died, feature in a short film, which has been released today, celebrating her life.
The Teenage Cancer Trust and NHS staff who supported her to keep living life to the full through four years of treatment helped to organise the film. Lulu: Forever 19, is part of Teenage Cancer Trust’s #talkaboutdying campaign, and sees Lulu’s own inspiring words read out by her mother Carolyn.
The film also features footage of Lulu and shows the moment she crossed the line at her Run with Lulu event last September, a charity 5k she organised with her family and rugby club to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust. She ran the event on her prosthetic with a broken shoulder blade, as the tumour had become so large, and the brave teen even raised over £21,000.
Weeks after the event, a scan showed that Lulu’s cancer had spread more quickly than expected, and tragically she only had months, not years as previously hoped, to live.
Towards the end of last year, Lulu was still able to get out of bed and do one thing a day she wanted. But by December she was too unwell to leave her house and sadly on January 1, 2023, she died at home with her family and loved ones.
Carolyn said: "During her treatment and when it was found Lulu’s cancer was terminal, we had so many difficult conversations as a family, and Teenage Cancer Trust and her team helped facilitate those. Discussing the arrangements for her to die at home, helping her choose the spot where she wanted to be buried, and talking about her plans for the celebration she wanted after her death was so hard, we needed that support.
"We will never stop grieving for Lulu but knowing that she was able to express what she wanted and being able to fulfil those wishes brings us some comfort."
Lulu's moving words which feature in Lulu: Forever 19:
"For the last three months I’ve been living, breathing and feeling probably most people’s worst nightmare. I’m sure everyone who follows me vaguely knows I was diagnosed with cancer when I was fifteen. I went through chemo and had my leg amputated, and on January 20, 2020, I was cancer free!
"Two and a half amazing years later full of laughs and smiles, and unfortunately, I found out my cancer has come back in four spots, and I have made the decision not to go through chemo; rather be on palliative care and keep all my pain under control until we no longer can…
"Despite being told I have relapsed, and now being terminally ill I’ve laughed and loved harder than I ever have in my life the past few months. Happiness can be found in any situation at any point, and a pinch of kindness will never go amiss; behind closed doors someone might need you to be their ray of sunshine.
"Every single nurse, therapist, social worker that has worked alongside me has been my little ray of sunshine. Time and time again through chemo, remission and relapse they have saved my life whether that be physically or mentally…
"I hope after reading this I’ve inspired you to do the things you said you were going to do tomorrow, make the people around you smile, and stop worrying about the things that don’t need worrying about. Life is too short."
Lulu raised over £95,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust through a variety of fundraising efforts, and her mum and loved ones continue to fundraise in her memory - and hope to hit their £100,000 target this year.
Dr Louise Soanes, Chief Nurse, Teenage Cancer Trust, said: "We are so thankful to Lulu and her family for their fundraising and sharing their story, which will help so many other young people with cancer."
Donate to the family’s appeal in memory of Lulu for Teenage Cancer Trust visit this link. To find out more about the #talkaboutdying campaign, visit this link.
Lulu: Forever 19 can be viewed here.
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