Linda was was pregnant and living abroad when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. However, she was a positive woman, who kept her family together, making everyone believe that she could win. She went through a difficult battle, with never ending challenges, but throughout it all she learnt the power of love and support through family and friends. She never stopped smiling through all the gruelling treatment, even when the chemotherapy really took its toll.

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Linda and her husband, Nick, really believed in maintaining a healthy diet, taking herbal medicines, drinking green tea, meditation, relaxation and therapy. As a family we supported each other to no end through the tough journey that not only involved trips to the hospital for treatment and scans, but also for baby check ups. Nick made sure that she was never alone during her battle.

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Linda was a unique lady. Unique in that she brought a smile to all who met her. Everybody remembers her effervescent smile that brought immediate joy and happiness. A quick chat with Linda was enough to hold you captivated by her amazing personality. Her family was everything to her; Ems and Ollie, two beautiful blonde girls who idolised her every step. Then Ella arrived, a miracle who came into our family at a time when we needed miracles.

 

How can anyone cope with the news of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Linda was pregnant and we were living abroad. Our happy world crumbled in one phone call in October 2004. However, Linda being the ever positive person, kept her family together making us all believe she could win. We started the long and twisting road for cancer treatment, which would throw never ending challenges. Along that road we learnt the power of family love and how many wonderful people there are that hold your hand. Linda's treatment was gruelling, but even after the chemotherapy really took its toll, her smile always returned. This is the time you realise the importance of a happy family who surrounds the person with belief and love. It is hope that carried us forward, hour by hour, day by day.

 

Doing things that were positive like eating healthy diets, taking herbal medicines, green teas, meditation, relaxation, therapy. Most important of all was being together, supporting each other. Sometimes laughing, sometimes crying. The monotonous trips to the hospital for treatment, scans, baby check ups were tough. However we always tried to look on it as beating the cancer back. Her husband, Nick was always by her side with magazines, books and food. Being next to Linda made her feel she was not fighting alone and that they both faced the challenges together. Linda always bounced back with a smiling face after the trips and looked for positive words from us. We were always there to lift her spirits, with a smile, a hug, a kiss and sometimes a glass of organic red wine! 

 

A miracle in the form of Ella was born on the 21st February 2005. Our joy was mixed with other emotions as we worried about Linda's recovery. However, as always, Linda lit the hospital up with her effervescent smile. Then it was back to the treatment. We travelled around UK, partly on holiday and partly visiting alternative therapists who gave us hope. We can look back and say we were blind to the inevitable. We believe not. Our positivity carried us forward. In a way, living in hope was our saviour - subconsciously preparing us. Linda asked us to remain believing in miracles, so we did. When Linda passed away on the 10th December 2005 we knew we had done everything possible to keep her with us. When there is only one amazing Linda then there is another world that she needs to help spread joy and happiness. Linda's unique spirit and smile was needed somewhere else. However hard it was for us to accept and face life without Linda we knew we had to in memory of all that she stood for. We were an adventurous family with Linda. We remain adventurous in honour of a lady who gave her family, friends and strangers so much by touching us all with her amazing smile and personality. We still see that smile in pictures, in memories, in stories shared and in the sky above. Linda and her experience will always be part of us and all those that she touched.​